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Pakistan and Iran on Friday agreed to lower tensions after the neighbours carried out drone and missile strikes on militant bases inside each other’s territory earlier in the week.
Both sides signalled a desire to de-escalate tensions during a telephonic conversation between caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
FM Jilani expressed Pakistan’s readiness to work with Iran on all issues based on spirit of mutual trust and cooperation. He also underscored the need for closer cooperation on security issues.
Pakistan launched strikes on terrorists’ hideouts inside Iran on Thursday, in a retaliatory attack two days after Tehran violated the country’s sovereignty by firing a missile in Balochistan, resulting in the tragic death of two children and injuries to three girls.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the two countries to exercise maximum restraint, with the US and China also appealing for restraint.
The tit-for-tat strikes across the porous border between the two neighbours fueled fears of wider instability in the region since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7.
FM Jilani, during a telephonic conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan earlier on Friday, said that Pakistan had no interest or desire for escalation.
Jiani said that Pakistan’s Operation “Marg Bar Sarmachar” was directed at terrorist camps inside Iran.
