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Both countries have a goal of normalizing relations: Pakistani prime minister
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Both have expressed a willingness to ease tensions.
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Pakistan pledges to use ‘full force’ if sovereignty breached
(Adds comments from the assembly of the National Security Committee in Pakistan in paragraphs to 16)
By Asif Shahzad and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Pakistan expressed willingness to negotiate with Iran on “all issues” at a meeting between its foreign ministers on Friday, after the two countries exchanged drone and missile strikes on militant bases on each other’s territory.
The “per eye” measures between the two countries are the highest-profile cross-border intrusions in recent years and have sounded alarms about increased instability in the region since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7.
However, while Iran and Pakistan have a history of complicated relations, both sides have already shown a preference for easing tensions.
A Pakistani Foreign Ministry official said Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani held talks with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on Friday, a day after Pakistan carried out measures on Iran.
Iran said Thursday’s strikes killed nine people in a border village on its territory, including four children. Pakistan said the Iranian attack on Tuesday killed two children.
“Foreign Minister Jilani expressed Pakistan’s readiness to work with Iran on all issues based on spirit of mutual trust and cooperation,” the statement said. “He underscored the need for closer cooperation on security issues.”
The contact followed a call between Jilani and his Turkish counterpart in which Islamabad said that “Pakistan has no interest or preference for escalation. “
Amirabdollahian, in remarks quoted by Iranian state media, said: “The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan are of wonderful interest to us and bilateral cooperation is aimed at neutralizing and destroying terrorist camps on Pakistani soil. “
‘MINOR IRRITANTS’
The contacts came as Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar convened a meeting of the National Security Committee, which was attended by all military chiefs. Kakar cut short his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos and returned home on Thursday.
The assembly concluded that “the two countries will be mutually able to overcome minor irritants through debate and international relations and pave the way for a deepening of their long-standing relations,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
However, it also says that any attempt to enter the territory of Pakistan “would meet with a reaction from the entire power of the state. “
He suggested that Iran use existing communication channels to address security concerns.
Kakar told a cabinet meeting after the security meeting that it was in the “interest of both countries” to restore relations as they were before the Iranian attacks, according to a separate statement.
Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from Tehran and allowed the Iranian ambassador to return to Islamabad.
Pakistani broadcaster Geo TV, citing sources, reported that the cabinet had decided to end a standoff and also endorsed a move to re-establish full diplomatic relations with Iran.
URGING RESTRAINT
U. N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint. The U. S. also called for restraint, with President Joe Biden saying the clashes showed Iran was not well-liked in the region.
Islamabad said it had attacked bases of the separatist Baloch Liberation Front and the Baloch Liberation Army, while Tehran said its drones and missiles had targeted militants from the Jaish al-Adl (JAA) group.
The militant teams operate in a domain that includes Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan and Sistan-Baluchistan province in southeastern Iran. Both are restless, mineral-rich and largely underdeveloped areas.
Iran’s most sensible security body, in meetings led by President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday, reported that the militants were preparing a “major operation” and that Iran’s measures on Tuesday were pre-emptive, state media reported on Friday.
Separately, Iranian media reports said security forces clashed with Islamic State militants in the southeast, killing two, capturing several others and seizing explosives and weapons.
INSURRECTION
The teams targeted by Islamabad have been waging an armed insurgency against the Pakistani state for decades, as well as targeting Chinese nationals and targeting investment projects in Balochistan.
The JAA, which strikes through Iran, is also a militant ethnic group, albeit with Sunni Islamist tendencies, perceived as a risk through Iran, which is predominantly Shiite. The group, which has ties to the Islamic State, has carried out attacks in Iran opposed by its tough Revolutionary Guard Corps.
In the context of the war in Gaza, Iran and its allies have flexed their muscles in the region. This week, Iran also introduced measures in Syria against what it says are Islamic State sites, such as in Iraq, where it said it targeted an Israeli spy center.
Inside Pakistan, civilian leaders came together to throw their support behind the military despite a deeply divided political arena ahead of national elections next month.
Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, his candidate for prime minister and three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, considered one of the electoral frontrunners in the polls, said Pakistan had a right to protect itself, but called for a debate with Iran in front of Iran.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan also condemned Iran, but called the measures taken in Pakistan a failure of the interim government set up to oversee the elections.
(Reporting by Asif Shahzad and Gibran Peshimam Additional reporting by Dubai newsroom; Writing by Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Peter Graff, William Maclean, Nick Macfie and Frances Kerry)