The visit of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Qamar Javed Bajwa, to Tehran holds importance for it is the first official visit by any COAS in almost two decades. Bajwa met the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei as well as the political and military leadership of Tehran.
The visit can be seen as a crucial development in the bilateral relations between Islamabad and Tehran as the two governments used to take opposite poles on issues of geo-strategic and global politics. While both sides are apprehensive that the neighbor’s soil is used against their vital interests, the only way to remove such fears is talks and visits to each other. There is a wide range of issues that have strained the relations between both countries. With the recent official trip of Qamar Bajwa, hopes are that all such apprehensions will give way to friendly, warm and cordial relations between the two nations.
The suggestion of COAS to manage the Pak-Iran border efficiently is a wise one, endorsed by the Iranian President, as it will put a halt to the activities of the miscreant in both countries. Deliberation on Afghan situation, where India is trying to increase its influence, vacuum for ISIS in the region were also on the meetings’ agenda. All these issues needed a discussion between Iran and Pakistan. A bilateral effort will help both countries to counter the menace of terrorism that manifests itself in many forms.
Iranian President’s comment that strong defensive and military ties between both the countries will pave the way for greater political and economic cooperation should be appreciated. It was the need of the hour to break the self-imposed isolation, because of the Trump’s hostile policy towards both countries.
Given the unpredictability of what Afghanistan beholds for Islamabad, as this Monday one Pakistani diplomat was shot dead in the city of Jalal Abad and India’s increasing influence in Kabul, though Khawaja Asif is assured of minimum Indian interference in Afghanistan by the U.S, the visit to Tehran was indispensable.