Pakistan, Iran restore diplomatic ties after missile and drone strikes
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Pakistan and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic ties after tensions escalated between the two countries following the missile and drone strikes against each other earlier this week, Islamabad said on Friday.
Following the tit-for-tat attacks on militant bases on each other's territory, both countries withdrew their ambassadors from their respective capitals. Both ambassadors are now expected to return to their posts following talks.
Pakistan said that its Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani “underscored the close brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran” during a conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
“The two foreign ministers agreed that working level cooperation and close coordination on counter-terrorism and other aspects of mutual concern should be strengthened,” the statement by the Pakistan foreign ministry said. “They also agreed to de-escalate the situation. The return of ambassadors of the two countries to their respective capitals was also discussed.”
On Thursday, Pakistan said that it had launched air strikes on alleged militant hideouts in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan provinces.
Iran’s state-run news agency, IRNA, reported that nine people were killed in the attacks including three women and four children, reports the BBC.
The attack came two days after Iran attacked alleged bases of the militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s Balochistan province using missiles and drones. The Iranian strikes killed two children and injured three others, Pakistan said.
Islamabad had described Tehran’s air strikes on its territory as an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace, following which it expelled the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan and recalled its envoy from Tehran.
The ties between the two countries were strained after Iran’s strikes in northern Iraq on Monday at targets that it claimed were Israeli “spy headquarters”. On the same day, Tehran also launched attacks against targets allegedly linked to the Islamic State terrorist organisation in northern Syria.
While Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and exchanging fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria are targeting US forces.
The US and UK have struck the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, who have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.
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