On Monday, Pakistan announced that Iran’s foreign minister is scheduled to visit the country next week, indicating efforts to repair relations following last week’s missile strikes between the two neighbors, targeting what they claimed were militant sites. The Pakistani foreign ministry stated that ambassadors from both nations are expected to return to their posts by January 26. Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed the visit of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Monday and mentioned that their ambassador would resume duties in Islamabad on Friday.
Earlier, Pakistan had recalled its ambassador to Tehran, preventing the return of the Iranian counterpart and canceling various high-level diplomatic and trade engagements. The Pakistani foreign office, in a statement, mentioned that Hossein Amir Abdollahian would visit Pakistan on January 29, 2024, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Implications for wider conflict
The recent cross-border missile strikes, considered the most significant intrusions in years, have raised concerns about regional instability, especially since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7. Iran attributed its strikes in Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan to attacks on its soil or against Iranian targets.
Tehran claimed to have fired missiles at Islamic State militants in Syria in response to a bombing during a commemoration for Qassem Soleimani on January 3. Iran’s strikes in Iraq were said to target alleged Israeli spy sites, a charge Iraq denied. In Pakistan, Iranian media reported the destruction of two bases of the Baluchi militant group Jaish al Adl, responsible for a December attack that killed Iranian security forces. Pakistan retaliated with strikes on separatist militants inside Iran.
More to read: Aftermath of the Israel-Gaza War: Saudi Arabia to Recognize Israel?
Both countries, with a history of strained relations, experienced the most significant attacks in decades. The militant groups involved operate in the Balochistan region of Pakistan and the Sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran, both marked by unrest, mineral wealth, and underdevelopment. Iran reported nine casualties, including four children, from the strikes on its territory, while Pakistan claimed two children were killed in the Iranian attack.