Pakistan, Iran Decide To Restore Diplomatic Ties

Envoys of both countries will now return to their respective posts by January 26 while Iran's foriegn minister will tour Pakistan on January 29 on the invitation of Jalil Abbas Jilani

Pakistan, Iran Decide To Restore Diplomatic Ties

Following a week of intense hostilities, which saw the ties between them downgraded, Pakistan and Iran on Monday decided to restore their diplomatic relations.

Envoys of both nations will return to their respective posts in the capitals of the other's country by the end of the week.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Monday, the two sides held a telephonic conversation.

During the conversation, it was mutually agreed that the ambassadors of both countries would return to their respective posts by January 26.

Furthermore, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has invited his counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, to visit Pakistan next week on January 29.

The thaw comes after a week of hostilities where Iran first launched a cross-border missile and drone attack on a village on the outskirts of the town of Panjgur in Balochistan, targetting militants aligned with Jais-e-Adl.

Pakistan retaliated a day later by launching precision strikes in the Sistan-Baluchestan province which borders Pakistan, striking a village around 100 kilometres inside Iran, targetting bases of Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) and the associated Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). 

The strikes altogether cost 11 lives on both sides of the border.

In the aftermath of the attacks, Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Iran, while the Iranian ambassador visiting Tehran was asked to temporarily delay his return to Pakistan.

However, in a meeting of the National Security Committee in Islamabad, Pakistan's highest national security forum, it was decided 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 historical relations."