<\/p>\n
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who arrived in Islamabad early on Monday, will hold \u201ccomprehensive talks\u201d on enhancing bilateral dialogue and engagement with his Pakistani counterpart, according to the Foreign office (FO).<\/p>\n
The development comes days after tensions escalated<\/a> between the neighbours following an Iranian air strike in Pakistan, leading Islamabad to strike terrorist hideouts in the neighbouring country\u2019s Sistan-Baluchestan province.<\/p>\n While the two countries sought to ease tensions after the deadly cross-border fire, on Saturday nine Pakistani workers were gunned down<\/a> by unidentified attackers in Sistan-Baluchestan. Pakistan has demanded a comprehensive investigation and swift prosecution of those responsible for the brutal attack.<\/p>\n Abdollahian was received at the Nur Khan airbase by Additional Foreign Secretary (Afghanistan and West Asia) Rahim Hayat upon his arrival in Pakistan. The FO said that the Iranian official would hold \u201cin-depth talks\u201d with Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and also call on caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar.<\/p>\n Later, the FO shared photos of Abdollahian being welcomed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Jilani.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two foreign ministers will hold comprehensive talks to enhance bilateral dialogue and engagement and to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran relations,\u201d the FO said.<\/p>\n On January 16, Iran had laun\u00adched attacks<\/a> 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 had reported, prompting strong condemnation from Islamabad and downgrading<\/a> of diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n Later, Pakistan struck<\/a> \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 \u201cMarg Bar Sarmachar<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s IRNA<\/em> news agency had reported<\/a> 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. Iran had condemned strikes and summoned<\/a> Pakistan\u2019s charge d\u2019affaires \u201cto protest and request an explanation from the Pakistani government\u201d.<\/p>\n In Islamabad, the escalation had prompted a high-level meeting of Pakistan\u2019s premier authority on security and foreign policy, the National Security Committee. It was chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar with cabinet members, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Staff, and other heads of intelligence in attendance.<\/p>\n During the hours-long meeting, the NSC had ratified the move towards reducing tensions between Pakistan and Iran and underscored a commitment to addressing mutual security concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cThe forum (NSC) expressed that Iran is a neighbourly and brotherly Muslim country, and existing multiple communication channels between the two countries should be mutually utilised to address each other\u2019s security concerns in the larger interest of regional peace and stability,\u201d a statement issued by the prime minister\u2019s office after the meeting said.<\/p>\n The NSC hoped that both countries \u201cwould mutually be able to overcome minor irritants through dialogue and diplomacy and pave the way to further deepen their historic relations\u201d but at the same time emphasised that any violation, under any pretext, would be met with the state\u2019s full force.<\/p>\n That sentiment was reciprocated by Tehran, whose foreign ministry, in a statement later that day, had said Iran \u201cadheres to the policy of good neighbourliness and brotherhood between the two nations and the two governments\u201d.<\/p>\n These exchanges had subsequently set the stage for a phone conversation<\/a> between FM Jilani and his Iranian counterpart.<\/p>\n The two foreign ministers had underscored the importance of collaboration and synchronising efforts at the operational level, with a specific focus on counterterrorism and other mutual concerns. They also committed to de-escalating tensions.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the foreign ministers had deliberated on the reappointment of each country\u2019s ambassadors to their respective capitals, signalling a move towards restoring diplomatic normalcy.<\/p>\n Jilani had also invited Amira\u00adbdollahian to visit Islamabad. The Iranian foreign minister, according to the Iranian side, had emphasised that the assurances about security and military cooperation should be seriously pursued.<\/p>\n On Friday, the FO spokesperson said<\/a> that envoys of Pakistan and Iran had arrived at their respective embassies in Islamabad and Tehran \u201cas per understanding between the two countries\u201d.<\/p>\n However, as the two countries sought to ease tensions, nine Pakistani workers were gunned down by unidentified attackers in Iran\u2019s Sistan-Baluchestan province near the border with Pakistan.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Mehr<\/em> news agency reported that \u201caccording to witnesses, this morning unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighbourhood of Saravan city\u201d in Sistan-Baluchestan province.<\/p>\n The individuals who lost their lives in the incident were from Pun\u00adjab, specifically originating from Multan, Muzaff\u00adargarh and Bahawalpur districts.<\/p>\n The province\u2019s deputy governor, Alireza Marha\u00admati, told the official IRNA<\/em> news agency that according to survivors of the incident, \u201cthree armed people shot at the foreigners after entering their residence and fled the scene\u201d.<\/p>\n Shortly after, the FO had said it was in touch with Iranian authorities and had \u201cunderscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime\u201d.<\/p>\n Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu said<\/a> on Sunday that two Pakistanis injured in the attack would be discharged soon from the hospital. The statement came as the protesting families of the victims of the gun attack staged a demonstration outside the assistant commissioner\u2019s office in Alipur tehsil of Muzaffargarh district.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nTit-for-tat strikes<\/h2>\n
9 Pakistanis shot dead<\/h2>\n