ISLAMABAD: Iran and Pakistan have decided to bury the hatchet after lobbing missiles at each other last week. In a joint statement, both countries announced the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian to Pakistan on January 29. Pakistan and Iran have also “mutually agreed” to reinstate their ambassadors in each other’s country, both foreign offices said on Monday.
Tensions had escalated between the two nations after Pakistan conducted “precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts” in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province that killed 9 people on Thursday. This was in response to Iranian missile attacks in the neighbouring Balochistan province that also claimed to have targeted terrorist hideouts.
The development comes amidst reports of Chinese Foreign Minister Sun Weidong visiting Pakistan days after Beijing said it would play a “constructive role” to ease tension. On Monday, China said it was maintaining close contacts with Pakistan and Iran to “bridge their differences”.
The Iran-Pakistan tension had put China in a piquant situation as Pakistan is an all-weather ally, while Iran is warming up to Beijing in recent years, enabling China to expand its influence in the West Asia region. China also imports a considerable amount of oil from Iran.