00:00 Breaking news unfolding between Iran and Pakistan in the last two days.
00:05 It all started on Tuesday, January 16, when Iranian missile and drones reportedly targeted
00:11 bases of the Jaish-e-Adl, a Baloch militant group inside Pakistan's Balochistan province.
00:18 This move didn't sit well with Pakistan, who strongly condemned it as a blatant breach
00:23 of their sovereignty.
00:25 In response, they recalled their envoy from Tehran and inherited that the Iranian ambassador
00:31 might not be coming back.
00:33 Adding fuel to the fire, early on Thursday, January 18, Pakistan conducted its cross-border
00:38 missile strikes on alleged terrorist hideouts in Iran.
00:43 Now, Iran had summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat and is planning large-scale military
00:49 exercise near its eastern borders, as reported by Al Jazeera.
00:53 Both nations are claiming civilian casualties in the recent cross-border attacks.
00:59 Let's take a look back at the history between Iran and Pakistan.
01:08 Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, both countries were strong allies of the United
01:14 States and even part of a military alliance called CENTO, similar to NATO, formed in 1955.
01:22 Iran supported Pakistan materially and with weapons during its war against India in 1965
01:28 and 1971.
01:30 The Shah of Iran, after the liberation of Bangladesh, emphasized not tolerating the
01:35 further disintegration of Pakistan.
01:38 However, everything changed after the Islamic Revolution in Iran with the rise of Ayatollah
01:44 Khomeini's regime, which was ultra-conservative Shi'ite.
01:48 Meanwhile, Pakistan, a Sunni-majority country, was undergoing its own Islamization under
01:53 military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq.
01:57 This led to a significant divide between the two countries, both ideologically and geopolitically.
02:03 The shift in Iran's relationship with the United States, becoming a sworn enemy after
02:08 1979, drew the US closer to Pakistan.
02:12 This coupled with Pakistan's support for the US war on terror post-9/11 became a major
02:18 source of Iranian distrust.
02:21 So, as we see, historical events have significantly shaped the complex relationship between Iran
02:28 and Pakistan over the years.
02:36 Let's talk about the efforts made by Iran and Pakistan to improve their relationship
02:41 over the years.
02:43 In November 1995, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto visited Tehran, calling Iran a friend, a
02:48 neighbor and a brother in Islam.
02:51 However, the relationship faced challenges when General Parvez Musharraf seized power
02:56 in a military coup in October 1999.
02:58 It didn't show signs of improvement until the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) returned
03:05 to power in 2008.
03:08 Under Asif Ali Zardari's leadership, who succeeded Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan increased
03:13 cooperation with Iran, especially in trade and energy.
03:17 Yet after Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister in June 2013, he shifted Pakistan's stance.
03:24 Sharif strengthened ties with Saudi Arabia and Arab allies, securing major deals.
03:30 Despite these changes, the Iranian pipeline project remained incomplete.
03:34 So, despite various attempts, the relationship between Iran and Pakistan continues to be
03:40 influenced by regional dynamics and geopolitical shifts.
03:50 Let's dive into the recent developments in India's relationship with Iran amid the escalating
03:55 tensions in the region.
03:58 Despite US sanctions on Iran and India's growing ties with the US, the two nations have cooperated
04:04 significantly in the energy sector.
04:06 In response to the recent strikes between Iran and Pakistan, India has taken a diplomatic
04:11 stance.
04:12 The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the strikes were a matter between the two
04:16 countries, but also emphasized India's zero tolerance towards terrorism and understanding
04:23 of actions and countries' stake in self-defense.
04:27 Strategic affairs expert C. Raja Mohan highlighted that India has consistently maintained concerns
04:33 about Pakistan harboring terrorists and Iran's claims align with India's position.
04:39 Mohan also pointed out that Pakistan's retaliatory strikes intend a send message not only to
04:45 Iran but also to India and Pakistan's Taliban.
04:49 The quick and strong response aims to possibly deter India from conducting cross-border attacks
04:56 in the future.
05:03 As we assess the recent tensions between Pakistan and Iran, Pakistan, facing economic challenges,
05:09 is preoccupied with concerns about India and dealing with growing insurgency on its Afghan
05:15 border.
05:16 Similarly, Iran is grappling with pressuring issues such as supporting the Houthi actions
05:22 in the Red Sea, backing Palestinians in Gaza, and dealing with Hezbollah's activities against
05:28 Israel, along with the Lebanon border.
05:31 This suggests that both nations, having made their statements with the recent strikes,
05:36 are likely looking to de-escalate the situation.
05:39 Now that you know all about the ongoing Pakistan-Iran tensions, you can also share your stance in
05:44 the comments below.
05:45 I'll see you next time.
05:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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