From military strikes to diplomacy
Iran, Pakistan stress ’brotherly’ ties
Iran and Pakistan are determined to resolve issues through dialogue after an exchange of military strikes between the two “brotherly” nations.
Iran has addressed “the friendly and brotherly government of Pakistan” after a tiff over Islamabad’s drone attack on an Iranian village near their border, calling on Islamabad to prevent the establishment of “terrorist bases” on its soil.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it “condemns the unbalanced and unacceptable action of Pakistan in the drone attack on non-Iranian citizens in a village on the border wall of the two countries”.
Nine people, including four children, were killed after Islamabad admitted attacking a village in Saravan in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province, characterizing it a response to Tehran’s operation against terrorist bases inside Pakistan.
“While the Islamic Republic adheres to the policy of good neighborliness and brotherhood between the two nations and the two governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan, and does not allow the enemies to darken the good and fraternal relations between the two countries, it considers the security of the people and the territorial integrity of the country as its red line,” the Foreign Ministry statement in Tehran said.
“And it strongly expects the friendly and brotherly government of Pakistan to adhere to its commitments in preventing the establishment of bases and armed terrorist groups on Pakistan’s soil,” it added.
Meanwhile, Pakistani President Arif Alvi on Thursday said his country fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and expects the same from other nations not to violate international law.
Alvi said that Pakistan and Iran are “brotherly countries and they needed to resolve issues through dialogue and mutual consultation”.
“The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest, which is paramount and cannot be compromised,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
Iran on Thursday summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires following the missile strike.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to “exercise maximum restraint to avoid a further escalation of tensions,” his spokesperson said on Thursday.
“The secretary-general underlines that all security concerns between the two countries must be addressed by peaceful means, through dialogue and cooperation, in accordance with the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and good neighborly relations,” Stephane Dujarric said.