Pakistan and Iran on Monday agreed that their ambassadors would return to their respective posts by Jan 26.
According to the Foreign Office, an agreement to this effect was reached during a telephonic conversation between caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
A joint press statement was released following the telephone conversation by both Pakistan and Iran.
“Following the telephone conversation between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, it has been mutually agreed that ambassadors of both countries may return to their respective posts by January 26, 2024,” the FO said in the statement.
Besides, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Jilani, the Iranian foreign minister will undertake a visit to Pakistan on January 29, it added.
Pakistan had recalled its ambassador from Iran following the violation of its airspace by Tehran on Jan 16. Islamabad conveyed to Tehran that their envoy might also not return for the time being.
Iran violated Pakistan’s airspace on Jan 16, Tuesday, by firing a missile at Balochistan, resulting in the tragic death of two children and injuries to three girls. Tehran’s unilateral move prompted Islamabad to recall its ambassador.
Islamabad also conveyed to Tehran that their envoy might also not return for the time being.
Pakistan launched strikes on terrorists’ hideouts inside Iran in a retaliatory attack two days later on Jan 18.
The tit-for-tat strikes across the porous border between the two neighbours fueled fears of wider instability in the region since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7 last year.
