By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign minister on Friday called for “closer cooperation” with Iran on security matters, as the two neighbors sought to defuse tensions after exchanging cross-border strikes against militants.
The two countries, who have long had strained relations over accusations of harbouring or aiding militants on both sides of their porous border, discussed the situation in a phone call between their foreign ministers, a day after Pakistan said it had targeted militant hideouts in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.
Iran had earlier launched missile and drone attacks on what it claimed were militant bases in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, raising fears of a wider conflict in the volatile region, where Israel has been waging a war on Gaza since Oct. 7 in response to rocket attacks by Hamas.
“Foreign Minister Jilani expressed Pakistan’s readiness to work with Iran on all issues based on spirit of mutual trust and cooperation,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. “He underscored the need for closer cooperation on security issues.”
The statement said the return of ambassadors of the two countries to their respective capitals was also discussed. Pakistan had recalled its envoy from Tehran after the airstrike.
“The two foreign ministers agreed that working level cooperation and close coordination on counterterrorism and other aspects of mutual concern should be strengthened,” the statement said. “They also agreed to de-escalate the situation.”
The development came ahead of a meeting of Pakistan’s top security body on Friday, which praised its military for responding to what it called an unlawful violation of its sovereignty by Iran, and urged both countries to use dialogue and diplomacy to resolve their differences.
The National Security Committee, chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, reviewed the situation along the border with Iran after the tit-for-tat attacks.
“The forum undertook a wholesome review of the situation and lauded the professional, calibrated and proportionate response by the armed forces of Pakistan against unprovoked and unlawful violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty,” a government statement said.
It added that the high-level meeting’s participants expressed that as Iran was a “neighbourly and brotherly Muslim country”, existing multiple communication channels between it and Pakistan should be mutually utilised to address each other’s security concerns in the “larger interest of regional peace and stability”.
“The forum reiterated the unflinching resolve that sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan are absolutely inviolable and sacrosanct and any attempt by anyone to breach it on any pretext will be responded with full might of the state.”
It further said that the participants stressed Pakistan’s commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in accordance with the UN charter and international norms.
“Forum also highlighted that Pakistan has suffered far more than any other country due to this scourge of terrorism. The meeting also concluded that in line with the universal principles governing the conduct of good neighbourly relations, the two countries would mutually be able to overcome minor irritants through dialogue and diplomacy and pave the way to further deepen their historic relations.”
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