Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi, is touted to be planning to visit Pakistan soon. Credible sources indicate the date of the visit is April 22nd.
Pakistan has already hinted that Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, is set to have a meeting with the Iranian president, and so, the news from Iran is just a confirmation.
It is believed the two leaders want to discuss the relationship between their two countries, which has become tense since January this year.
The Pakistan-Iran Missile Strikes
In mid-January 2024, Iran carried out missile strikes inside Pakistan, saying the target was the military bases under Israeli control. On almost immediate retaliation, Pakistan struck back. According to Islamabad, the Pakistani government intended to attack the militant separatists operating from within Iran.
Despite the reasons given by the two countries regarding their respective strikes, there were civilian casualties. Tehran’s strikes killed two children, while Islamabad’s retaliatory attack killed several women and children.
Currently, there seems to be no end in sight for the fighting in Gaza. Hence, the attacks between Iran and Pakistan have raised fears a great war could erupt in the gulf region.
The reality on the ground is that Iran believed the Sunni militant group, Jaish-ul-Adl was responsible for some fatal attacks on its soil. These attacks, which had taken place in the same month of January, were most serious in Rask, a city in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province.
Tensions between Iran and Pakistan even led to the latter recalling its ambassador to Iran, but diplomacy has since resumed.
In the anticipated April 22nd meeting, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, is expected to be present, alongside senior leadership in the Pakistani military.
Also, besides diplomatic ties, the leaders of the two countries are expected to discuss matters of security and economic interest. For example, the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and the proposed Free-Trade-Area are likely to be among the day’s agenda.
Iran’s Attack on Israel May Have Catalyzed Peace Events
Talks of Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Pakistan began two days after Tehran attacked Israel with 300 drones. Iran’s attack was in retaliation of Israel’s strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria.
So far, Iran has agreed to release the Pakistanis on a ship Iranian forces seized last Sunday. Reza Amiri Moghadam, the Iranian ambassador in Islamabad, has confirmed the good news.