Diplomatic Blow For Pakistan As Iran Refuses To Back Shehbaz's India Pitch

Pakistan suffered a diplomatic setback during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent visit to Iran, when his attempt to engage India in bilateral talks was met with a cautious response from Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian welcomed Sharif to Tehran's Saadabad Palace when he arrived from Turkey.

In a joint press conference, Sharif expressed Pakistan's willingness to engage in comprehensive peace talks with India, aiming to address long-standing concerns such as Kashmir, terrorism, water conflicts, and commerce. Iran, on the other hand, maintained a cautious response. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on X, "We are delighted with the end of conflicts between Pakistan and India and hope that the two countries' differences will be resolved."

President Pezeshkian supported this view, calling for a "durable ceasefire" between New Delhi and Islamabad and encouraging both countries to engage in conversation to address differences and promote peace.

This diplomatic interaction comes amid tense Iran-Pakistan relations. The previous year, Iran carried out airstrikes in Pakistan's Balochistan region against the Jaish al-Adl group, which had previously attacked Iranian border guards. Pakistan reacted with its own airstrikes in Iran, targeting the Baloch Liberation Front, which Islamabad considers a militant outfit.

Tensions between India and Pakistan rose after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which terrorists killed 26 civilians, including 25 Indian tourists and one Nepalese person. In reply, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, carrying out precise strikes on nine terrorist infrastructure targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These strikes targeted areas affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which are known for orchestrating cross-border assaults on India. India emphasised that the operation was focused, measured, and non-escalatory, intentionally avoiding Pakistani military facilities.

Pakistan then launched retaliatory attacks on Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10, using swarm drones and heavy artillery. India successfully prevented these strikes and replied with robust countermeasures, including the destruction of Pakistan's HQ-9B air defence system in Lahore.

India has maintained a tough posture, claiming that any talks with Pakistan will only address the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the issue of terrorism. The recent developments highlight the difficulties of regional diplomacy and the challenges in maintaining long-term peace between the two countries.