Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a day visit in increasing tensions between Pakistan and India after last month’s attack against tourists in illegally occupied Indians Jammu and Cashmira (Iiojk).
Islamabad has rejected the accusations of participation of India, saying that it has credible intelligence that suggests that New Delhi can be planning military action. The ongoing confrontation has caused a regional alarm on a possible escalation among neighbors with nuclear weapons.
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, says Amiri Moghadam, told the state media that Araqchi’s meetings would address “ways to reduce tension in the subcontinent” due to the narrow links of Iran with India and Pakistan.
Abbas Araqchi was received at the airport by the additional secretary West Asia Syed Asad Gillani, the Iranian envoy and other senior Pakistani officials.
During the visit, the Foreign Minister is expected to have conversations with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Ishaq Dar.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan (FO) said that the high -level visit reflects the “deeply rooted and strong relationship between Pakistan and the fraternal nation of Iran” and reaffirms the mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation.
Abbas Araqchi is expected to travel to New Delhi at the end of this week, although it is not clear if the visits were previously planned or an answer to the crisis.
The FO added that the two parties will also exchange views on regional and global key developments.
India has not responded to the diplomatic reach of Pakistan. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has previously rejected the mediation of third parties on Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has contacted multiple capitals regarding the situation, including Russia. In a recent call with his counterpart from Pakjstani, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged restriction and emphasized the importance of diplomacy to calm tensions.
Islamabad has also requested its UN envoy to seek information about the Security Council on what calls the “aggressive actions” of India that threaten regional peace.
