ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan and Iran on Monday agreed to reinstate their ambassadors by Jan 26, following a bilateral dispute that escalated with Iranian strikes on Pakistani territory.

Furthermore, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian is set to visit Islamabad on Jan 29, accepting an invitation from his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani.

This agreement was rea­ched during a phone conversation between the two foreign ministers, marking their third discussion since the Iranian strikes.

Their last conversation took place on Friday (Jan 19), focusing on de-escalation strategies and reaffirming their commitment to security and military cooperation, especially concerning the longstanding issue of cross-border sanctuaries that have strained relations.

A joint statement from the foreign ministries sta­ted, “It has been mutually agreed that ambassadors of both countries will ret­urn to their respective posts by January 26, 2024. At the invitation of Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jil­ani, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amir Abdo­llahian, will visit Pakistan on January 29, 2024.”

This diplomatic progress follows a period of heightened tension that commen­ced on Jan 17 when Pakis­tan downgraded its diplomatic ties with Iran. This move involved recalling its ambassador from Tehran and expelling the Iranian envoy in response to Jan 16 Iranian missile and drone strikes in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, acts that Pakistan deemed “illegal” and a violation of its sovereignty.

The Iranian offensive targeted bases of the militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan, a response to terrorist attacks within Iran. An attack last month on a police station in Rask in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, attributed to Jaish Al-Adl militants, prompted Iran to intensify its demand that Pakistan carryout a crackdown on terrorist sanctuaries.

On Jan 18, Pakistan also conducted cross-border strikes on sanctuaries of Pakistani Baloch militants located in what Islamabad referred to as “ungoverned space” on the Iranian side of the border. The operation, known as “Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar”, reportedly resulted in nine fatalities.

The Foreign Office, while announcing the strikes alleged that Tehran had remained unresponsive to its demands for actions against Pakistani groups that had taken up sanctuaries on Iranian soil.

Following Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes, gestures of conciliation were evident from both sides. The normalisation process on the Pakistani side received backing from the National Security Committee, which convened on Friday and emphasised a commitment to resolving mutual security concerns.

The reappointment of ambassadors and Abdollahian’s forthcoming visit to Pakistan indicate a warming of relations between the two countries.

Both countries have long faced the challenge of terrorist havens within their borders and have in the past worked to improve border security, despite a history of mutual distrust.

The anticipated diplomatic engagements are considered crucial in narrowing divisions and promoting constructive dialogue amidst the prevailing regional security challenges.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024