Pak-Iran diplomats resume duties

ISLAMABAD: After a brief strain in diplomatic ties following cross-border tensions, the envoys of Pakistan and Iran are set to resume duties in Tehran and Islamabad, respectively, following their arrivals in the capitals, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on Friday night.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Muddasir Tipu returned to Pakistan last week, briefly halting the diplomatic ties with the neighbouring country after Tehran’s surprise attack in Balochistan claiming to target a militant outfit on January 16, while the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan had already left for Iran.

However, the FO spokesperson announced today that the Pakistani ambassador had arrived in Tehran and his Iranian counterpart in Islamabad as per mutual understanding between the two countries.

Amb Mudassir earlier in the day announced his return to Tehran via an X — formerly Twitter, post. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Ambassador Mudassir said he is en route to return to the Iranian capital in “conformity with the sincere and good wishes of Pakistan’s leadership”.

“Ever more determined to work for a more robust, stronger & peace-loving [Pakistan],” added Tipu, who returned to Islamabad on January 17 following the attack by Iran. Commenting on the significance of a peaceful relationship between Islamabad and Tehran, Ambassador Mudassir further stated that a strong Pakistan and Iran are “critical for region & to promote historic people to people ties”.

“Time to turn a new leaf,” he wrote in his post on X.