Islamabad — Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Islamabad on Monday at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani, amidst tensions resulting from recent tit-for-tat strikes between the two nations.
Upon landing at the Nur Khan airbase, the Iranian Foreign Minister was received by Rahim Hayat Qureshi, Pakistan's Additional Foreign Secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia.
"Foreign Minister of Iran @Amirabdolahian has arrived in Islamabad at the invitation of Foreign Minister @JalilJilani. He was received at the Nur Khan airbase by Additional Foreign Secretary (Afghanistan and West Asia) @RahimHayat," Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson's official handle posted on X.
During his visit, Amir-Abdollahian is scheduled to engage in in-depth discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Jilani and Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar to put relations back on track.
How Did Iran-Pakistan Relations Strain?
Diplomatic tension between Iran and Pakistan escalated in January as the neighbouring nations engaged in cross-border airstrikes, leading to worsening of diplomatic ties.
The tension began with Iranian airstrikes targeting the alleged bases of the Sunni separatist group Jaish al-Adl in southwestern Pakistan on January 16. The attack resulted in casualties, including at least two children killed and three others injured, according to the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which condemned the incident as an "unprovoked violation of its airspace".
In response, Pakistani airstrikes were conducted two days later, targeting what Islamabad claimed were training camps belonging to Baluch insurgents in southeastern Iran. The Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi reported at least nine casualties, including four children, three women, and two men who were non-Iranian citizens, condemning the strikes.
Tehran accuses Jaish al-Adl of carrying out attacks inside Iran from across the border, claiming that Pakistan shelters the group and other militants involved in high-profile attacks against the Iranian military. Islamabad denies these allegations.
In a parallel scenario, Baluch separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Baluch Liberation Front have targeted law enforcement, government personnel, and buildings in southwestern Pakistan's Baluchistan province. Pakistan accuses Tehran of providing these groups a safe haven across the border in Iran, where they allegedly receive funding and training. Tehran denies these charges.
Relations between Pakistan, predominantly Sunni, and Iran, primarily Shia, have historically been strained, with both countries blaming each other for using their minorities as proxies for their own benefits.
Despite these tensions, the two neighbours have historically maintained routine diplomatic, trade, and military activities.
