ISLAMABAD: Iran’s top diplomat in Islamabad on Tuesday expressed concern over the growing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging both sides to continue efforts to improve relations. He said that terrorism and separatist movements remain serious challenges for both Pakistan and Iran, stressing that the two countries must strengthen their cooperation and coordination to effectively address these threats. Speaking at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri-Moghaddam said that Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict would only harm the region. “War in the region is in no one’s interest,” he emphasised. Moghaddam also warned that common adversaries of Pakistan and Iran are working to fuel terrorism and separatism. “We must remain vigilant,” he told a public talk titled “Pakistan–Iran Relations: An Enduring Partnership in a Changing Region”, organised by the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the ISSI. The Iranian ambassador said strong cooperation and coordination between Pakistan and Iran continued at regional and global forums. “We are grateful for the strong backing of the Pakistani nation and government; regional cooperation will continue,” he said. “The Pakistan-India war and the 12-day Israeli aggression against Iran brought Pakistan and Iran closer,” he added. The Iranian Ambassador said that Pakistan and Iran share a long common border and together represent a population of nearly 350 million people. Robust people-to-people ties, a strategically significant geographic location, substantial complementary, and non-competitive economic structures create extensive opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. He further opined that Iran and Pakistan also maintain closely aligned positions on numerous regional and international issues, including the question of Palestine. He noted that Pakistan-Iran collaboration is reinforced through regional engagement, mutual diplomatic support, and common membership in important multilateral platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and the Developing Eight Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8). He also shed light on the fact that Iran–Pakistan relations are currently experiencing one of their most constructive phases in recent decades. The exchange of more than 25 high-level delegations over the past two years, along with the signing of 25 agreements and memoranda of understanding across diverse sectors, reflects the upward trajectory of cooperation and the shared recognition of the strategic importance of bilateral relations. The Ambassador also pointed to the vast economic potential of regional cooperation, noting that Pakistan and Iran together represent a market of nearly two billion people, which could further expand with the inclusion of Turkiye. He concluded by saying that Iran–Pakistan relations rest upon a solid foundation of shared history, cultural affinity, and common strategic interests. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman, Board of Governors, ISSI, said that Pakistan and Iran are two brotherly countries bound by culture, history and religion and relations with Iran predate the existence of Pakistan. Ties further deepened after Pakistan came into being and Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan. Furthermore, Iran’s support for Pakistan during the 1965 and 1971 wars is also a testament to their close ties. There have been difficult phases in the relationship, which have strained the relationship at times. He further said that both countries are closer to each other than ever before, although challenges remain, like terrorism, and sectarianism. He concluded by saying that, in a changing region, with new hostilities, Pakistan and Iran remain committed to working together on shared peaceful solutions. Dr Amina Khan, Director, CAMEA, ISSI, stated that Pakistan and Iran share a long-standing bilateral relationship grounded in historical ties, geographic proximity, and intertwined security and economic interests. In recent years, bilateral relations have remained positive and forward-looking, characterised by sustained high-level engagement, close coordination on regional and international developments and commitments to the principle of sovereign equality, she emphasized that there has been significant alignment on key issues, particularly Afghanistan, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the broader objective of preserving peace and stability in the region. She further said that during last year’s 12-day Israeli aggression, Pakistan strongly condemned Israel’s military strikes against Iran, labelling them “reckless” provocations that threaten regional stability and a “grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity“, international law, and the UN Charter. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026