TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut arrived in Islamabad on Monday. They are trying to mediate between Pakistan and India.
“Today, our trip to Pakistan had three main goals,” Araguchi told reporters after meeting with Pakistani counterpart, Muhammad Ishak Dal. “First, I wanted to give a clear understanding of the current situation in the region, particularly with regard to the ongoing development between India and Pakistan.”
The diplomat said both Pakistan and India were “friendly countries” for Iran and he was eager to hear Pakistan’s perspective on the current situation before heading to India.
The fatal terrorist attacks in the conflict-based Himalayas region of Pahargam, which killed 26 tourists, became a new point of contention between two neighbors on April 22. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, but Pakistan refused to file charges. It led to a diplomatic flare-up and exchange of small arms fires across the Kashmir border, and Pakistan now says it is waiting for India’s invasion.
Concerned about the potential impact of intensifying tensions between the two South Asian countries, Iranian President Masuud Pezeshkian spoke on the phone with leaders in Islamabad and New Delhi last month to spur restrictions and provide mediation services in Tehran. Iran’s proximity and ties to both countries make it vulnerable to potential military fallouts.
In addition to addressing regional tensions, Aragchi’s discussion in Pakistan also focused on strengthening bilateral relations. “(During this trip), we aimed to discuss and strengthen bilateral relations with Pakistan, particularly in the political, economic and cultural fields. We look forward to discussing these topics and continuing discussions at future meetings,” the Foreign Minister told reporters.
Pakistan’s Ishakdal affirmed the strong historical, cultural and religious ties between Tehran and Islamabad, underscoring the need to expand cooperation in key areas such as trade, energy, border security and regional ties.
Araguchi also raised the latest developments in indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington during high-level exchanges in Pakistan. Iran and the United States held three discussions mediated by Oman in April with the aim of creating a new agreement on Iran’s nuclear program following the withdrawal from the original agreement in 2018. Iranian officials have explained to their allies about the progress of these consultations since they began.