Iran's foreign minister arrives in Islamabad amid Indo-Pak standoff

Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a one-day visit amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India following a deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region last month.

India has blamed Pakistan for involvement in the attack, a charge Islamabad denies. Pakistan says it possesses “credible intelligence” that India may be preparing for military action, raising fears of conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

While Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not confirm that the Kashmir dispute was formally on the agenda, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, told state media the issue would be discussed.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.Foreign Office of Pakistan

“Given Iran’s close relations with both Pakistan and India, ways of reducing tension in the subcontinent will be among issues ... pursued during [Foreign Minister Abbas] Araqchi’s meetings,” Moghadam said.

Araqchi is expected to visit New Delhi later this week, though it remains unclear whether the visits were scheduled before the recent uptick in hostilities.

In a brief statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Araqchi and Pakistani officials would “exchange views on regional and global developments.”

India’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has repeatedly opposed third-party mediation over the Kashmir dispute.

The Himalayan region, home to a Muslim-majority population, has been at the heart of several wars and diplomatic crises between India and Pakistan since their independence.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said it has contacted multiple countries to de-escalate the situation. Most recently, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who emphasized diplomacy and urged both sides to exercise restraint.

Islamabad has also asked its envoy to the United Nations to request a Security Council meeting to raise concerns over what it called India’s “aggressive actions” that threaten regional peace and stability.