AiBotIn a bid to soothe lingering tensions between the two countries, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, concluded his two-day visit to Tehran where he held high-level talks with senior Iranian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani’s chief aide, Abbas Araqchi.
According to reports from Iran’s state television, General Bajwa departed Tehran on Tuesday evening, marking the end of his two-day official visit to the Islamic Republic. The visit was seen as a crucial step in easing tensions that had mounted between Pakistan and Iran following a series of skirmishes along the Iran-Pakistan border.
During his meetings with senior Iranian officials, General Bajwa is rumored to have discussed key security and defense cooperation matters with his counterparts. Sources close to the Pakistani military establishment have revealed that the army chief also explored avenues of strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries, a move that has been widely seen as a priority for the Pakistani military leadership.
According to media reports from Tehran, General Bajwa held extensive talks with Iranian Foreign Ministry officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani’s chief aide, Abbas Araqchi. This marked General Bajwa’s second meeting with Araqchi in as many years, highlighting the significance that both sides attach to the relationship between the two countries.
During his second meeting with Araqchi, General Bajwa and his Iranian counterpart are believed to have focused on key issues of mutual interest, including border security, trade and commerce, and people-to-people ties. Pakistani officials have stated that the two sides also reviewed progress on several joint projects being implemented under the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
Despite a string of border clashes between Iranian and Pakistani security forces over the past year or so, both countries have made clear their commitment to peace and normalization along the border. The meetings between General Bajwa and Iranian officials have undoubtedly played a significant role in this regard.
General Bajwa’s visit to Tehran also underlined the shared concerns of the two countries in the face of growing terrorist threats emanating from across the Afghan border. Pakistani officials have stated that General Bajwa emphasized the need for increased cooperation between their military establishments on this count.
Iran and Pakistan have a long-standing history of cooperation, with both countries working closely on regional and international issues of mutual concern. The successful conclusion of General Bajwa’s visit is thus seen as a significant step forward in strengthening ties between these two key regional players.
The development has likely provided a fillip to relations between Iran and Pakistan, which have been plagued by misunderstandings and disputes over border issues in recent years.