Bansri Shah, Pune
Pakistan and Iran have decided to “de-escalate” tensions after exchanging lethal airstrikes on militant targets within each other’s borders. The airstrikes, which began on the 16th of January, had reported a death toll of 11, mostly women and children, on both sides. The attack was fuelled even further by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, escalating regional tensions.
The attack began with Iran launching a missile into Pakistan, claiming to aim it towards ‘terrorist’ targets which were alleged to be the bases of Jaish al Adl (JAA). Pakistan, in turn, retaliated by launching airstrikes on Iran’s separatist militant targets that were said to be bases of Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The airstrike led to Pakistan calling back their ambassador from Tehran and blocked Iran’s representative, who was on a visit home, from returning back to Islamabad. The United Nations and the United States both appealed for restraint to stop the conflict from increasing. China, however, kept a neutral position on the issue, offering to mediate on the situation. India restated its intolerance towards terrorism but also stated that it understood nations acting in self-defense to protect themselves from attack.
Before tensions could escalate, a phone conversation between Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister and Jalil Abbas Jilani, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, alleviated the conflict. The joint statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stressed upon the, “brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran.” It stated that the countries need to work together on the basis of mutual trust and cooperation and this included, “respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.” Both the countries agreed on working together against terrorism and in strengthening aspects concerning both, Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan’s Prime Minister had held an emergency security meeting after the attacks to stress on the fact that any ambush on Pakistan’s integrity will be met with the full might of the country. The statement released stated, “The meeting also concluded that in line with the universal principles governing the conduct of good neighbourly relations, the two countries would mutually be able to overcome minor irritants through dialogue and diplomacy and pave the way to further deepen their historic relations.”