ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a crucial two-day visit aimed at discussing bilateral relations and the evolving situation in the Middle East. This visit occurs amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Araghchi’s visit follows last month’s escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel, during which both nations launched missile attacks against each other. Notably, on October 26, Israel conducted strikes on Iranian targets, asserting that these actions were in response to earlier missile attacks from Tehran.
Since the devastating attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has been engaged in combat with Hamas in Gaza and has also been involved in a conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, both of which are allied with Iran. Pakistan, a key ally of Saudi Arabia, shares a long border with Iran.
Mumtaz Baloch, a spokesperson for the foreign office, announced on social media that Araghchi’s visit will include meetings with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The discussions are expected to focus on the current Middle Eastern situation and the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran.
Despite the presence of several commercial agreements related to trade, energy, and security cooperation, Pakistan and Iran have historically had a tumultuous relationship. In 2004, both nations signed a $7 billion agreement for the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, which remains unfinished two decades later. While Iran has completed its section of the pipeline, Pakistan is seeking a U.S. waiver to proceed, primarily due to sanctions imposed on Iran.
The timing of Araghchi’s visit is significant, as it follows the tragic loss of an Iranian Revolutionary Guards general and pilot in a helicopter crash during an anti-terror operation in the Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan.
Furthermore, the two countries frequently experience tensions along their shared border, often trading accusations regarding the failure to eliminate militancy. In January, both nations exchanged airstrikes, each claiming to target militant hideouts within the other’s territory. In April, the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Pakistan for a three-day trip aimed at strengthening ties and reducing tensions, resulting in the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding in areas such as trade, science and technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial cooperation.
