Pakistan and Iran agreed to strengthen border security and curb cross-border terrorist activities, to deny terrorists any foothold to target either side of the Iran-Pakistan border.
The assurance from both sides came during Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi’s two-day official visit to Pakistan. During his visit, he discussed Islamabad with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir.
Araghchi met with Pakistan’s PM Sharif on November 5 to discuss bilateral cooperation and pressing regional issues, particularly the evolving Middle East conflict, including the Israeli actions in Palestine, Lebanon’s invasion, and recent aggression toward Iran.
“I told Pakistani officials that we consider terrorism against you as a threat against us,” Mr Araghchi said after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief Gen Asim Munir.
Border management
During a media briefing alongside Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Araghchi reiterated that the security challenges facing Iran and Pakistan were “externally fuelled” and “outsourced into our region”, adding that both sides had agreed to continue counter-terrorism cooperation through “military, security, and political channels”.
“We agreed to intensify collaboration on border management and to address shared challenges,” Dar said, adding that both countries “pledged to coordinate joint efforts to eradicate terrorism and extremism”.
During a dinner reception at the Iranian embassy concluding his visit, Araghchi acknowledged “gaps” in border security coordination between Iran and Pakistan but highlighted the “will and strong determination” of both nations’ leadership to resolve them.
Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline
Araghchi also expressed Tehran’s willingness to discuss Pakistan’s delay in completing the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project. “There is goodwill on both sides to resolve the matter,” Araghchi said reaffirming Iran’s openness to dialogue.
He voiced regret over the stalled progress, calling it “unfortunate” that the “strategic project” remains unfulfilled, and subtly noted it was “well known” who was obstructing its completion.
The $7 billion Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, has faced prolonged delays since the two nations signed an agreement in 2004. While Iran has completed its section of the pipeline, Pakistan has sought a U.S. sanctions waiver to proceed with its portion.
Iranian Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan
Upon his arrival in Islamabad on Monday night, Araghchi was received by Pakistan’s Additional Foreign Secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia, Ambassador Ahmed Naseem Warraich.
The visit came in the wake of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, which have been engaged in a series of missile exchanges since late October. On October 26, Israel launched strikes on Iran, citing retaliation for missile attacks by Tehran.
Pakistan, though aligned with Saudi Arabia, shares a long and often tense border with Iran, adding to the strategic significance of Araghchi’s visit.
Despite ongoing cooperation, the Pakistan-Iran relationship has been marked by complexities, often stemming from border instability and differences in regional policies.
Security along their shared, porous border has also posed challenges, with both nations accusing each other of harboring militants. Tensions flared in January when both sides reportedly conducted airstrikes, claiming to target insurgent hideouts within each other’s territories.
Diplomatic efforts continued with a visit from then-Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Pakistan in April, during which the two countries signed multiple memorandums of understanding covering sectors like trade, health, agriculture, science, culture, and judicial cooperation.