Pakistan And Iran Agree to 'De-Escalate' After Air Strikes on Each Other.

Defense News ,Pakistan & Iran :- Pakistan and Iran have agreed to ease tensions after engaging in deadly airstrikes on each other's territory. The recent military actions occurred in the border region of Baluchistan, shared by both nations, further escalating regional tensions already heightened by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Iran conducted a missile and drone attack on what it deemed "terrorist" targets in Pakistan, prompting Pakistan to respond with strikes on militant targets inside Iran. This exchange led to Pakistan recalling its ambassador from Tehran and blocking the return of Iran's envoy.

Amid international calls for restraint, including appeals from the United Nations and the United States, and China offering to mediate, the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Iran spoke by phone. They agreed to enhance coordination on counterterrorism and other shared concerns while also committing to de-escalate the situation.

Following the call, Iran's Foreign Minister emphasized the need for both countries to collaborate in neutralizing and eliminating terrorist camps in Pakistan.

Analysts predicted a measured response from both sides to defuse the confrontation, suggesting that the nations are now symbolically on even ground.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar held an emergency security meeting, cutting short his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos. The strikes occurred as Pakistan approaches general elections, marked by allegations of pre-poll rigging.

Both Tehran and Islamabad asserted that they targeted their respective domestic militants taking refuge on foreign soil. The collective death toll from the strikes, affecting an arid region with a history of militant activities, included mostly women and children.

Residents near the strike site expressed concerns over potential border closures, fearing the impact on trade with Iran, a vital source of employment and food imports for the region. There were worries that a closed border could lead to increased militancy as the population faces economic hardships.

The Baluchistan region has witnessed a low-level insurgency by Baluch separatists against Pakistani authorities, with the area grappling with governance challenges and economic deprivation. Human rights groups have criticized the military's response to the insurgency, citing enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Militancy has also surged along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power in 2021.