Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday said that it was in the interest of both Iran and Pakistan to take steps to restore their relationship to the levels before Tehran violated the country\u2019s airspace. On Tuesday, Iran had laun\u00adched attacks in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan, Iranian state media reported, prompting strong condemnation from Islamabad and downgrading of diplomatic ties. The Iranian strikes were part of a series of attacks carried out by Iran in recent days in Syria and Iraq as a response to recent terrorist attacks on its territory. They have heightened concerns about regional stability, particularly amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The next day, Pakistan struck \u201chideouts used by terrorist organisations namely Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF)\u201d in Iran\u2019s Sistan-Baluchestan province, in an intelligence-based operation codenamed \u2018Marg Bar Sarmachar\u2019. Iran\u2019s IRNA news agency had reported that nine people were killed in the attack targeting a village in the city of Saravan, with Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi saying all the dead \u201cwere foreign nationals\u201d. Following Pakistan\u2019s tit-for-tat response to Iran\u2019s missile attack, PM Kakar, who was in Switzerland for the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), decided to cut short his visit. Iran had condemned the strikes, and summoned Pakistan\u2019s charge d\u2019affaires \u201cto protest and request an explanation from the Pakistani government\u201d, a statement by foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani had said. However, the Iranian foreign ministry later said in a press release that it was committed to good neighbourly relations with Pakistan. A statement issued by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the caretaker federal cabinet today about the situation arising from Tuesday\u2019s attack such as its details and Pakistan\u2019s response. PM Kakar said that it was \u201cin the interest of both countries to take steps to restore the relationship to what it was prior to Jan 16.\u201d The premier added that Pakistan would \u201cwelcome and reciprocate all positive measures from the Iranian side\u201d in the above regard. He said Pakistan and Iran were \u201ctwo brotherly countries that have historically enjoyed fraternal and cooperative relations marked by respect and affection.\u201d Kakar added that Pakistan was a \u201claw-abiding and peace-loving country\u201d which sought friendly and cooperative relations with all countries, particularly its neighbours. \u201cThe cabinet lauded the high professionalism with which the Pakistan armed forces responded to the breach of Pakistan\u2019s sovereignty and how the entire government machinery worked in unison in this regard,\u201d the PMO statement said. NSC moot stresses engagement to address concerns Separately, the National Security Committee (NSC) convened an emergency meeting today to deliberate on matters of national security. PM Kakar chaired the high-level moot with interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, federal ministers and all the military services chiefs, including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir, in attendance. \u201cThe forum undertook a wholesome review of the situation and lauded the professional, calibrated and proportionate response by the armed forces of Pakistan against unprovoked and unlawful violation of Pakistan\u2019s sovereignty,\u201d said a statement posted by state-run agency Pakistan Television News on social media platform X. It added that the high-level moot\u2019s participants expressed that as Iran was a \u201cneighbourly and brotherly Muslim country\u201d, existing multiple communication channels between it and Pakistan should be mutually utilised to address each other\u2019s security concerns in the \u201clarger interest of regional peace and stability\u201d. The meeting\u2019s members were briefed about the political and diplomatic developments bearing upon the prevailing situation between Pakistan and Iran and its impact on the overall security milieu in the region. The forum also took stock of Pakistan\u2019s retaliatory response which was \u201csuccessfully executed against Pakistani-originated Baloch terrorists residing on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran\u201d. The statement added that an update on the situation along the borders and the \u201cnecessary full preparations done to comprehensively respond to any further violation of national sovereignty\u201d were also deliberated about. \u201cThe forum reiterated the unflinching resolve that sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan are absolutely inviolable and sacrosanct and any attempt by anyone to breach it on any pretext will be responded with full might of the state. \u201cThe meeting reaffirmed that the security and safety of the people of Pakistan is of paramount importance and no stone will be left unturned to ensure it,\u201d the statement added. It further said that the participants stressed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in accordance with the UN charter and international norms. The NSC members also reiterated the resolve to deal with the menace of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, \u201cwith an iron hand\u201d. \u201cForum also highlighted that Pakistan has suffered far more than any other country due to this scourge of terrorism. 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,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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