In a region long marked by shifting alliances and simmering tensions, recent diplomatic moves between Iran and Pakistan are drawing renewed attention. Over the past week, top envoys and security officials from both countries have engaged in a flurry of meetings, signaling a shared determination to tackle mounting security threats and deepen bilateral cooperation. The backdrop? A volatile Afghanistan, escalating insurgent violence, and the ever-present specter of cross-border terrorism.
On Thursday, November 27, 2025, Islamabad played host to a high-stakes meeting between Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, and Mohammad Reza Bahrami, his Iranian counterpart. According to reporting by Al Jazeera, the two envoys didn’t mince words about the urgency of their agenda. "We exchanged views on key concerns, including the security dynamics and the threat posed by terrorist groups active on Afghan soil," Sadiq posted on X, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The meeting, described by Sadiq as "an opportunity for frank and constructive discussions" on regional developments, came at a particularly fraught moment. Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have been steadily mounting, fueled by a string of violent incidents and diplomatic deadlock. In recent weeks, two rounds of talks in Istanbul between Pakistani and Taliban officials failed to yield any breakthroughs. The core sticking point? Pakistan’s repeated demands that the Taliban clamp down on Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group Islamabad claims is operating from Afghan territory.
The Taliban, for their part, have consistently rejected these allegations, insisting that the TTP’s presence is either exaggerated or an internal Pakistani issue. Yet, as a United Nations monitoring group recently estimated, the TTP may have as many as 6,000 fighters inside Afghanistan—a number that has set alarm bells ringing in Islamabad and beyond.
Matters took a dramatic turn earlier this week when, according to Taliban officials and corroborated by the United Nations, a series of airstrikes struck Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar, and Paktika. The Taliban accused Pakistan of carrying out the strikes, which reportedly killed 10 civilians, including nine children and one woman. The UN confirmed civilian casualties in Khost. While the Pakistani military stopped short of confirming the attacks, offering only a cautious denial at a press conference, the tone from Pakistan’s political leadership was decidedly sharper. As Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Geo News, "Pakistan no longer expects anything positive from the Taliban."
It’s against this tense backdrop that Iran has stepped up its diplomatic engagement with Pakistan. On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council and a close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader, made headlines by offering Islamabad what he called a "blank cheque" to help resolve its disputes with both India and Afghanistan. "Pakistan is very dear and honourable to the Iranian people. We are prepared to give the Pakistanis a 'blank cheque' to help resolve these issues, to be used whenever they deem necessary," Larijani declared in a televised interview before concluding his trip, as reported by The Express Tribune.
Larijani’s visit to Islamabad—where he met with Pakistan’s president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir—was more than just a symbolic gesture. It came on the heels of a significant warming in Iran-Pakistan relations, particularly after the recent 12-day Iran-Israel war. During that conflict, Pakistan’s diplomatic support for Tehran was widely praised within Iran, fostering a spirit of goodwill that has now spilled over into broader strategic cooperation.
In a statement shared on his Xi account, Larijani revealed that Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, following his own recent visit to Islamabad, had issued "important directives to remove all economic barriers between the two countries." The Supreme National Security Council, Larijani added, would lift any remaining restrictions, emphasizing that Iran imposes "no limitations on cooperation with Pakistan." Still, he urged for "greater dynamism and practical action" from both sides, confirming that robust mechanisms are being established to follow up on these decisions.
The security dimension of these talks was front and center during Larijani’s meeting with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at Pakistan’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. According to an official statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation, evolving regional security, and strategies to strengthen Iran-Pakistan engagement. Director General ISI Lt General Asim Malik and other senior officials were also present, underscoring the seriousness of the discussions.
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff reaffirmed the country’s commitment to regional peace and stability, highlighting the need for closer coordination with Iran on counterterrorism and border security. Larijani, for his part, praised Pakistan’s "vital role" in regional peace and voiced Tehran’s resolve to deepen strategic, political, and economic cooperation. Both sides agreed that only sustained dialogue and practical cooperation could help navigate the region’s many challenges and achieve long-term stability.
Back at the diplomatic level, the meeting between Sadiq and Bahrami echoed these sentiments. Bahrami stressed that peaceful solutions to regional disputes remain the most effective path toward stability, cooperation, and collective security. This dovetails with the broader message coming out of Tehran and Islamabad: that regional problems demand regional solutions, built on trust, dialogue, and mutual support.
Yet, the reality on the ground remains deeply complex. The unresolved issue of the TTP’s alleged sanctuary in Afghanistan continues to poison relations between Pakistan and the Taliban. The recent airstrikes—whether confirmed or not—have only deepened distrust. Meanwhile, the specter of cross-border terrorism and the risk of wider regional conflict loom large.
Iran’s offer of a "blank cheque" to Pakistan is a striking gesture, but it’s also a calculated move. Tehran, facing its own set of geopolitical challenges in the Middle East and beyond, sees value in shoring up ties with Islamabad. For Pakistan, grappling with threats on both its eastern and western borders, Iranian support could prove invaluable—if, and only if, it translates into concrete action and effective coordination.
As the dust settles on this latest round of diplomacy, one thing is clear: the stakes for regional security have rarely been higher. The coming weeks will test whether the pledges of cooperation and dialogue can withstand the pressures of real-world events—or whether old rivalries and mistrust will once again take center stage.
