The key factor bringing the countries together is Gaza, devastated in the aftermath of Israel’s brutal counterstrike to the Hamas attacks in October 2023.
Iran and Pakistan are mending relations after airstrikes a year ago, driven by shared concerns over Gaza. PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized peace talks with India, while Iran’s Khamenei praised Pakistan’s stance on Palestine, urging Muslim unity amid conflicts.
A year after they conducted airstrikes in each other’s territory, Iran and Pakistan appear to be burying the hatchet as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir visit Tehran and meet the Iranian leadership.
The key factor bringing the countries together is Gaza, devastated in the aftermath of Israel’s brutal counterstrike to the Hamas attacks in October 2023. While Pakistan brought up its recent conflict with India and Kashmir, Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in public remarks, has only said Iran hopes disputes between India and Pakistan are resolved.
The Gaza Unity Factor
According to a report in The Tehran Times, Khamenei has acknowledged that Pakistan has not joined the countries normalising ties with Israel in “a blatant betrayal of the Palestinian cause” despite Western pressure. “While there have been temptations for Islamic countries to engage with the Zionist regime in recent years, Pakistan has never succumbed to these temptations,” he said during a meeting with the Pakistani Prime Minister. He said the Palestine issue is the foremost concern of the Islamic world. “The situation in Gaza has reached a point where ordinary people in Europe and the United States are protesting their governments, yet unfortunately, some Islamic governments stand alongside the Zionist regime under these circumstances,” he said.
The Dawn reported that Israeli actions have caused untold misery for the people of Gaza. “It is high time that the international community used its influence to bring a lasting ceasefire in Palestine. Pakistan stands by its brothers and sisters in Iran to promote peace, progress and prosperity,” he said.
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