On 22 April, Irani president Ebrahim Raisi paid three days of official visit to Pakistan. He became the first foreign head figure to visit Pakistan after the 8th February election in the country. His agenda for the trip has ranged from counter-terrorism to border security, economic ties, the future of the Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline, and gathering support from Pakistan in favour of Iran in the boiling situation of the Middle East. However, many experts viewed that the timing of the Irani president’s visit indicates the gravity of Pakistan-Iran relations.

Pakistan and Iran, being neighbouring countries, share everything from history to language, food, culture and architecture. History bears the testimony to the fact Iran was the first who recognise Pakistan soon after its independence. And supported Pakistan throughout the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan wars. Meanwhile, Pakistan was also the first country that immediately recognized a new Islamic regime after the Iranian Revolution (1979). However, post-1979 events shaped greatly Pakistan-Iran relations as Iran was out of the American camp. Nevertheless, a change of geopolitical outlook doesn’t strain relations between both countries in the long run.

Now, let’s talk about the agenda of Irani president’s visit to Pakistan. First, Pakistan and Iran are concerned about growing attacks of violent non-state actors between border areas of both countries. Pakistan, for a long time, has complained about the growing influence of Indian proxies near the Iran-Pakistan border, especially near Chabahar port. India has pumped billions of dollars into that port for the pretext of economic reasons. However, various intelligence reports by Pakistan and the........

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