Pakistan decides to restore diplomatic ties with Iran: sources

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to end the recent tension with Iran and restore diplomatic relations.

According to sources, a federal cabinet meeting was held under the chair of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar immediately after the National Security Committee meeting.

The federal cabinet endorsed the decisions of the National Security Committee, the sources said. No official statement in this regard has yet been issued.

The sources said that Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani briefed the cabinet and said that Pakistan does not want any tension with any neighbour, while Iran also wants to end the tense situation.

He said that Pakistan showed restraint and only responded to Iran’s wrong move.

According to the sources, the cabinet expressed its readiness to resolve all issues with Iran through dialogue, and to promote mutual cooperation to create an atmosphere of trust.

It may be noted that today was the second telephone contact between Pakistan’s caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and his Iranian counterpart Amir Abdollahian after the recent incidents.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said that Jalil Abbas Jilani expressed Pakistan’s readiness to work on all issues with Iran on the basis of mutual trust and cooperation.

He stressed the need for close cooperation on security matters between the two countries.

It may be recalled that on January 17, two innocent children were killed and three girls were injured as a result of an attack by Iran on Pakistan’s airspace.

Within less than 48 hours of Iran’s violation of its airspace, Pakistan attacked the hideouts of terrorists in the Iranian province of Sistan and Balochistan on the morning of January 18, killing several alleged terrorists.