Pakistan to restore diplomatic relations with Iran after tit-for-tat strikes — PM Kakar’s office

The Pakistani government on Friday decided to restore diplomatic relations with Iran, the Pakistan prime minister’s office said, after Islamabad recalled its ambassador from Iran following an airstrike by Tehran in Pakistan’s southwest. 

Tensions between Pakistan and Iran soared after Tehran on January 16 conducted an airstrike in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province that it said targeted militant bases. 

The strike prompted Islamabad on Wednesday to recall its ambassador from Iran and bar Tehran’s envoy from returning to Pakistan. A day later, the Pakistani military conducted multiple strikes on militant targets in Iran’s southeast. 

The strikes by the two countries are the highest-profile cross-border intrusions in recent years and have raised alarm about a wider conflict in the Middle East since Israel waged a war on Gaza after Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. 

Amid mounting tensions, Pakistan’s federal cabinet and top security body, the National Security Committee (NSC), separately met on Friday to deliberate upon the matters. 

“It was in the interest of both countries to take steps to restore the relationship to what it was prior to 16th January,” Pakistan PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s office said in a statement after the federal cabinet meeting. 

“In this regard, Pakistan would welcome and reciprocate all positive measures from the Iranian side.” 

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