Islamabad,23 January, 2024(GNP): In a significant development, Islamabad and Tehran have reached an agreement for the return of ambassadors to their respective posts by January 26, 2024.
A joint statement released on Monday by the Foreign Office announced that, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian is scheduled to visit Pakistan on January 29.
On January 17, Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from Iran and declared that it would prevent the Iranian envoy, who was visiting his home country at the time, from returning.
This move was in protest of what Pakistan deemed a “blatant breach” of its sovereignty, following Tehran’s announcement of missile attacks on militant bases in southwestern Pakistan.
Also Read: USAID investment and climate summit: U.S. Support for Pakistan’s economy
On January 18, Pakistan retaliated by launching strikes on terrorists’ hideouts inside Iran, a response to Tehran’s violation of the country’s sovereignty with a strike in Balochistan on the previous day. The Iranian attack resulted in two children losing their lives and three girls sustaining injuries.
The Pakistan Army, In a statement, reported the successful targeting of hideouts used by terrorist militant organizations, specifically the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). The operation, named “Marg Bar Sarmachar,” was conducted based on intelligence.
The tit-for-tat strikes marked the most high-profile cross-border intrusions in recent years, sparking concerns about increased instability in the Middle East. This comes amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas since it erupted on October 7.
Amid the conflict in Gaza, Iran and its militia allies across the Middle East have been conducting attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets in the region, exhibiting support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
