President Pezeshkian offers mediation to defuse Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions

TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday offered to help ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Naqvi met President Pezeshkian in Tehran, where the two discussed Pakistan-Iran relations and bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, Naqvi briefed the Iranian president on the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In response, President Pezeshkian offered to play a “brotherly role” in reducing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

Naqvi thanked the Iranian president for the offer and conveyed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s good wishes to him, saying that Pakistan and Iran are partners in promoting regional peace and stability.

President Pezeshkian emphasised the need to reduce tensions in the region and to avoid any form of conflict.

He said Iran attaches special importance to its relations with Pakistan, adding that Tehran “cannot forget the unwavering support of its brotherly nation.”

Expressing satisfaction over bilateral ties, Pezeshkian noted that both countries have immense potential to expand cooperation.

Earlier, Naqvi also met Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Ardeshir Larijani and Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni separately to discuss strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations and security cooperation.

Larijani welcomed Naqvi at the Supreme National Security Council office, where detailed discussions were held on counterterrorism, anti-narcotics efforts, and border management.

Both interior ministers also discussed ways to deepen cooperation on internal security and stressed the need for stronger institutional linkages between the two countries.

Naqvi congratulated his Iranian counterpart on the successful hosting of the ECO Ministerial Conference, saying the forum would yield long-term benefits for member states.

He said that Pakistan seeks to learn from Iran’s experiences in domestic security management.

Inviting Momeni to visit Pakistan, Naqvi said Islamabad is keen to enhance collaboration with Tehran in security and counter-narcotics operations.

The Iranian Supreme National Security Council described the positive progress in bilateral relations as “encouraging.”

Momeni thanked Naqvi for attending the ECO conference and said he would visit Islamabad soon to meet his “brother.”

Speaking to Iranian television, Mohsin Naqvi remarked, “Differences exist even within families, but brotherly nations can resolve them through dialogue.”