New Delhi: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran a year after Iran and Pakistan engaged in cross-border airstrikes.
While the shared concern over the devastation in Gaza following Israel’s counteroffensive against Hamas in October 2023 acted as a catalyst for this rapprochement, the nuanced response from Iranian leadership regarding the India-Pakistan conflict reveals a complex geopolitical dynamic.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister raised the issue of the recent conflict with India, triggered by Indian airstrikes in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. Sharif specifically highlighted India’s actions in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
While Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Saed Ali Khamenei publicly expressed hope for a resolution to the India-Pakistan disputes, his remarks noticeably omitted any condemnation of India’s actions. Instead, his focus centred on praising Pakistan for its steadfast rejection of normalisation with Israel, even under Western pressure.
“We are delighted with the end of conflicts between Pakistan and India and hope that the differences between the two countries will be resolved,” Khamenei said on X.
Khamenei highlighted Pakistan’s unwavering stance on the Palestinian cause, contrasting it with the actions of other Islamic nations that he perceived as siding with Israel. This strategically positioned statement subtly deflects from the India-Pakistan issue, while simultaneously reinforcing Iran’s solidarity with Palestine and subtly criticising nations perceived as betraying the cause. The Israeli actions in Gaza were described by Sharif as causing “untold misery,” and he called for international community intervention.
“While there have been temptations for Islamic countries to engage with the Zionist regime in recent years, Pakistan has never succumbed to these temptations,” Khamenei said during a meeting with the Pakistani Prime Minister.
“The situation in Gaza has reached a point where ordinary people in Europe and the United States are protesting their governments, yet unfortunately, some Islamic governments stand alongside the Zionist regime under these circumstances,” he added.
Similarly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian voiced support for a lasting ceasefire, urging both countries to engage in dialogue to resolve their disputes. Notably, neither Khamenei nor Pezeshkian explicitly criticized India’s actions.
“We are ready to talk, for the sake of peace on water issues with our neighbour. We are ready to talk to promote trade and also, counter-terrorism. We wanted peace, we want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks, on the table, and resolve our outstanding issues,” Sharif said in a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
