Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan was called to the
Foreign Office for conveying Pakistan's concerns over
the reported remarks of the Iranian Chief of Staff of the
Armed Forces regarding cross-border actions.
The foreign office conveyed to the Iranian ambassador
that such remarks were against the spirit of brotherly
relations existing between the two countries.
Recently, the frequency of high-level exchanges from
both the sides has strengthened the bilateral cooperation
and during the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister to
Islamabad on May 3, the two sides agreed to enhance
cooperation on the border issues.
The Iranian side was urged to avoid issuance of such
statements that could vitiate the environment of
fraternal relations.
The head of the Iranian armed forces had warned that
Tehran would hit bases inside Pakistan if the
government does not confront militants who carry out
cross-border attacks. According to a report, Ten Iranian
border guards were killed by militants last month.
The border area has long been plagued by unrest from
both drug smuggling gangs and separatist militants.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visited
Pakistan last week and asked Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif to improve border security. Pakistan assured Iran it would deploy additional troops along its border.
In 2014, Iran warned it would send troops to Pakistan to
retrieve five Iranian border guards kidnapped by Jaish
al Adl.
Pakistan said at the time that such action would be a
violation of international law and warned Iranian forces
not to cross the border.
Iran refrained from sending troops when a local cleric
stepped in and resolved the situation.
Four of the guards were released a few months later, but
one was killed by the militants.
Jaish al Adl is a militant group that has carried out
several attacks against Iranian security forces with the
aim of highlighting what they say is discrimination
against minority groups in Iran.
The group claimed responsibility for attacks that killed
eight border guards in April 2015 and 14 border guards
in October 2013.
Pakistan and Iran are not only neighbours but also enjoy
historical linkages covering faith, culture, history and
economy. They always stood by each other at critical
junctures providing moral and material support. Iranian
threat has been widely lamented by public opinion in
Pakistan and by doing so publicly Tehran has done
nothing but pleased enemies of Islam who want
Muslims to fight among themselves. The blatant threat
by Iranian army chief was unfortunate and it seems that
Iranian army is overstepping its power. After the visit of
Iranian foreign minister to Pakistan and detailed
deliberations on bilateral issues, such statement cannot
be justified. The reports had emerged that Iranian army had also developed differences with its president on
Iranian nuclear programme. If the Iran has reservations,
it can utilise diplomatic means to raise the issue with
relevant Pakistani authorities. Pakistan has always
given due respect and importance to Iran as an
immediate neighbour and brother Muslim country
despite the fact Pakistan is enjoying very close relations
to its rival Saudi Arabia.Pakistan is taking
indiscriminate action against all terrorists and has
rendered great sacrifices in war against terrorism. If
Iran has some genuine issues it should handle it
diplomatically. Such will not be helpful for regional and bilateral interest.
