An op-ed published on Pakistani news outlet The News International by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday stressed the enduring importance of Iran–Pakistan relations, describing the bilateral partnership as a cornerstone of regional stability, cultural unity, and shared resistance to foreign aggression.

In the article, Araghchi framed Iran's relationship with Pakistan as rooted not just in geography, but in "centuries of shared civilisational experience, religious affinity, cultural kinship and converging strategic interests." His message comes ahead of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's state visit to Pakistan, a key moment in a deliberate diplomatic effort to deepen ties between the two Muslim-majority neighbors.

Referencing past high-level visits, including those of former President, martyr Ebrahim Raisi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Araghchi noted that such exchanges "represent a deepening alignment that extends well beyond ceremonial diplomacy," signaling an evolving partnership with long-term strategic weight.

Sacred Solidarity

The op-ed highlighted the 900-kilometer border between Iran and Pakistan as more than a geopolitical boundary, but rather "a bridge that has connected peoples and civilisations for centuries." Araghchi invoked shared traditions like Nowruz and common Sufi roots to emphasize a cultural intimacy that underpins political cooperation.

He also underscored Islam's unifying role in shaping both nations' worldviews, urging solidarity in defending just causes such as the Palestinian struggle. Araghchi praised Islamabad's moral clarity in condemning the Israeli-US strikes on Iran territory in June 2025, an act which followed "Israel's" broader military escalation in Gaza and the region.

"The Israeli regime's ongoing genocide in Gaza, its occupation of Syria and Lebanon, and its recent unprovoked attacks on Iranian territory underscore the urgency of a collective response to belligerent forces that thrive on instability and domination," he warned.

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This alignment reflects broader geopolitical currents. In January 2024, the two nations endured a brief but sharp military exchange over terrorist elements operating in border regions. That crisis, and the rapid diplomatic de-escalation that followed, prompted renewed political will on both sides to reinforce cooperation across security and economic fronts.

Strategic Synergy

Turning to economic integration, Araghchi cited Iran's vast energy capacity and Pakistan's dynamic agricultural sector as complementary assets in building a sustainable partnership. He called for coordination across multilateral forums, including the UN, OIC, SCO, and D‑8 to foster regional resilience and help Muslim nations "shape their own destinies."

This vision is already taking shape. Earlier this year, Tehran and Islamabad agreed to move forward on the long-delayed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, with a goal of expanding bilateral trade to $10 billion annually. Despite sanctions and global payment restrictions, both sides have increasingly turned to barter trade, a mechanism through which Pakistan has begun to outpace India in supplying rice and other goods to the Iranian market.

On regional security, Araghchi called for stronger joint efforts to neutralize terrorist groups along the border and stabilize neighboring Afghanistan. Both nations, he argued, have a vested interest in transforming their shared geography from a zone of tension into a corridor of cooperation.

He further expressed gratitude for the Pakistani people's spontaneous solidarity following the recent Israeli-US war on Iran, a gesture that resonated deeply within Iranian society and symbolized the depth of popular unity between the two countries.

Toward a Shared Future

The op-ed closed with a powerful invocation of Allama Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet and a known admirer of Persian thought, as a symbol of the enduring intellectual and spiritual bonds uniting the two nations.

"Our friendship is not merely a relic of the past; it is a strategic investment in the future," Araghchi wrote.

President Pezeshkian's upcoming visit is expected to affirm these shared aspirations, laying the groundwork for expanded agreements on trade, transit, counterterrorism, and cultural exchange, and further solidifying Iran–Pakistan cooperation as a pillar of a new, more just regional order.