THE interior minister of Iran, Ahmad Vahidi, has concluded an important and timely visit to Pakistan. He held meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan, army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid to discuss a wide range of issues but focusing primarily on border management matters. The two countries also decided to form a joint working group to deal with these matters. His visit has come at a time when Pakistan is facing renewed terror incidents in Balochistan. Earlier this month, coordinated attacks by Baloch militant groups on FC camps in Panjgur and Naushki led to the precious loss of lives of soldiers and officers. There have been other incidents of violence emanating from Afghanistan where TTP and various Baloch militant organisations are said to have found sanctuaries. Pakistan’s border with Iran is relatively more secure but there are concerns among Pakistani officials that some militant groups may also be crossing this border to launch terror attacks. The fencing of the border with Iran and Afghanistan is a mega project that is near completion and has helped in curtailing not just terrorism but also smuggling and narco-trafficking. However, as these recent incidents of terrorism show, there is much more that needs to be done.

It is a positive sign that high-level officials of Iran and Pakistan are in regular contact. The last few years have seen positive engagement between the two countries. Prime Minister Khan as well as army chief Gen Bajwa have visited Iran which shows the importance that Pakistan attaches to this relationship. Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts have also resulted in excellent projects like the border markets that are now operating with success and providing a commercial lifeline to populations living in these remote areas. The challenge is to ensure that such positive engagement does not get adversely affected by fresh bouts of violence that can be connected to groups which can cross the border to escape the authorities. The joint working group can be useful in managing these day-to-day issues and coordinating efforts for counterterrorism. The Iranian authorities should also ensure that their soil is not used by terrorists to launch attacks inside Pakistani territory. Given the significance of the relationship, and the high stakes riding on it, both Pakistan and Iran must step up efforts to forge a tighter bond that is cemented by mutual advantages in all spheres of bilateral relations.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2022