Senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official Rasoul Mousavi announced the return of Pakistani Ambassador Muhammad Mudassir Tipu and Iran's Ambassador Reza Amiri Moqaddam to their respective posts, marking a significant step towards normalizing relations between the two countries.
Mousavi highlighted the shared satisfaction among the people and officials of both nations regarding the restoration of amicable relations, emphasizing the crucial role of mass media in strengthening fraternal ties.
Efforts to mend ties are further underscored by an upcoming official visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to Pakistan, scheduled for January 29, 2024. This visit follows a joint statement issued by Amir-Abdollahian and his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani, affirming the return of ambassadors by January 26.
The decision to restore diplomatic relations was announced earlier by Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar on January 19, following discussions during an emergency security meeting with military and intelligence officials regarding recent tensions.
The recent strains stemmed from cross-border tensions over Iran's counter-terrorism operations, culminating in drone and missile strikes targeting bases of Jaish ul-Adl, a terrorist group responsible for attacks on Iranian soil. In response, Pakistan conducted strikes against separatist groups near the Iranian border, prompting condemnation from Tehran.
The return of ambassadors and diplomatic overtures signal a positive trajectory in Iranian-Pakistani relations, underlining a commitment to resolving differences and fostering mutual cooperation.
