Pak-Iran Relations in a Historical Perspective.

Byline: Prof. Dr. Amir Ahmed Khuhro

A part from being the neighbor in the western border of Pakistan, Iran is the only country with which Pakistan have very old relations, which are mainly based on cultural, ethnic, religious and spiritual links. Pakistan shares more than 900 kilometers common border with Iran. Traditionally Pakistani frontiers with Iran have always remained peaceful, safe, and secure.

Pakistan has enjoyed very cordial relations with Iran. As Pakistan and Iran are bounded in a strapping relationship, Iran was the first country which recognized Pakistan upon its first day of emergence as an independent country in August 1947 because Founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah had advocated a proIranian policy and was the main architect of the policy that Pakistan was to pursue with regards to Iran, which was its closest Muslim Neighbor the only state.

At cabinet meetings, Jinnah argued at length for fostering cordial relations with Iran in particular. He also pointed out with great vision that Pakistan could look forward to a genuine and lasting relations with Iran, Quaid-Azam also named Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan as Pakistan's first ambassador to Iran with clear directives to forge fraternal ties based on genuine respect for each other, In may 1949, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan paid his first officia l visi t t o Ira n and a Treaty of Friendship was also signed in may 1950.

When India lost its territorial continuity with Iran, Pakistan became a defining factor in Iranian relations with India, In the early 1970's Pakistan succeeded in ending a separatist insurgency in the Province of Balochistan would not have been possible without the support of the Iranian Government.

During 1990's relations between two countries declined as a result of two concurrent developments in Pakistan, the rise of anti-Shi'ite terrorist activities in Pakistan and assassination of Iranian Counsel General, Sadeq Ganji in Lahore Pakistan and in 1990's subsequently the coming of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Despite Shia-Sunni division, Islamic Identity became an important factor in shaping the Pakistan-Iran Relations especially after the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Pakistan and Iran enjoy deep rooted historical linkages as the Persian speaking scholars travelled from Iran to the areas now called as Pakistan creating lasting footprints over the lives and livings in the region.

Since Iran had its security concerns from the expansionist designs of former...

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