Iran, Pakistan Agree to Defuse Tensions After Tit-for-Tat Attacks

  January 20, 2024   News ID 7519
Iran, Pakistan Agree to Defuse Tensions After Tit-for-Tat Attacks
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani called for joint actions in the fight against terrorism and reaffirmed respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of each other’s countries after reciprocal attacks on border regions soured bilateral relations between the two neighbors.

SAEDNEWS: During a phone call with Jilani on Friday, Amir Abdollahian said Iran attaches importance to brotherly relations with Pakistan in line with its neighborhood-first policy. "It is appropriate to seriously follow security and military cooperation that was agreed upon and stressed by the two countries' authorities in the past," he continued.

Stressing Tehran's respect for Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he added, "Collaboration between the two countries to neutralize and destroy terrorist camps in Pakistan is essential."

The top diplomat stated the need for unity among Muslim countries is "felt more than ever" amid the genocidal Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

Amir Abdollahian touched on the recent Iranian operation against the Jaish Al-Adl terrorist group in Pakistan, saying the operation was quickly carried out to neutralize an imminent terrorist threat.

He added Iran's intelligence showed at the time that over fifty terrorists were preparing for anti-Iran terror attacks in Pakistan.

"Iran's security forces in their operational bases confront any terrorist operation at the very beginning and do not allow terrorists to take operational action," the minister stressed.

At least ten people, children and women, were killed in the air attacks by Pakistan in the Saravan county on Thursday morning local time. It comes a day after Tehran pounded two main headquarters of the anti-Tehran terror group the so-called Jaish Al-Adl in Pakistan's Southwestern province of Balochistan. Two key strongholds of the terrorist group in Pakistan have been obliterated through precision missile and drone strikes.

Jilani also echoed the Iranian minister's calls for closer cooperation, saying the Pakistani nation and government feel special respect for Tehran, and seek to expand ties in various fields.

"We are two long-standing Muslim neighbors," he continued, noting that a shared viewpoint on fighting terrorism forms the core of Iran-Pakistan bilateral ties.

Islamabad has always stressed the "brotherly" and "constructive" ties with Iran, adding, "Terrorism is our common enemy and terrorists and enemies of Tehran-Islamabad relations should not be allowed to abuse [issues to create tension]."

"Collaboration and brotherhood is the basis of our work," he added.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has also issued a statement, saying the two diplomats agreed to de-escalate the tensions.

“The return of ambassadors of the two countries to their respective capitals was also discussed,” it added.

Later, Al-Jazeera reported that the Pakistani cabinet decided to end the standoff and also endorsed a move to re-establish full diplomatic relations with Iran (Source: FARSNEWS).


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