Iran, Pakistan Inaugurate Joint Projects in Conflict Area

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi shakes hand with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during an inauguration of the Mand-Pishin border in Pishin, border of Pakistan-Iran, Thursday, May 18, 2023 (Iranian Presidency)
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi shakes hand with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during an inauguration of the Mand-Pishin border in Pishin, border of Pakistan-Iran, Thursday, May 18, 2023 (Iranian Presidency)
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Iran, Pakistan Inaugurate Joint Projects in Conflict Area

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi shakes hand with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during an inauguration of the Mand-Pishin border in Pishin, border of Pakistan-Iran, Thursday, May 18, 2023 (Iranian Presidency)
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi shakes hand with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during an inauguration of the Mand-Pishin border in Pishin, border of Pakistan-Iran, Thursday, May 18, 2023 (Iranian Presidency)

Leaders of Iran and Pakistan jointly inaugurated the first marketplace and a power transmission line along their shared border in a significant move aimed at boosting regional trade and energy cooperation as relations warm between the two countries.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced that Iran will supply 100 megawatts of electricity daily to Balochistan’s Gwadar.

For years, Iran has shown interest in the port of Gwadar, which is a Beijing-funded infrastructure and part of China’s $65 billion Belt and Road Initiative.

The Pakistani prime minister made the announcement at a media briefing after he and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi inaugurated the transmission line project and the marketplace at the Mand-Pishin border crossing point.

Located in the remote village of Pashin in Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province, the marketplace is the first of six to be constructed along the Pakistan-Iran border under a 2012 agreement signed by the two sides.

In a televised meeting, Sharif, sitting next to Raisi, assured him Pakistan would do its best to improve security along the Iranian border. He added that both sides agreed to enhance trade and economic ties, and extended an invitation to Raisi to visit the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, according to AP.

For his part, Raisi described the relations between the two nations as “exemplary.”

He said the cooperation between Iran and Pakistan can establish stable security in the region and the cooperation between the two countries in the economic, commercial, and scientific and technology fields can contribute to the development of the two countries.

The Border Sustenance Marketplace is located in the village of Pashin in the Baluchistan province, southwest of Pakistan.

Iran-Pakistan relations have been contentious because of cross-border attacks by Pakistani militants along their shared border.

Small separatist groups have been behind a long-running insurgency calling for Baluchistan’s independence from the central government in Islamabad. Pakistani anti-Iran militants have also targeted the Iranian border in recent years, increasing the friction between the two countries.

This is the first visit of its kind since 2013, when the two nations signed an agreement allowing Pakistan to import Iranian gas despite American opposition. Tehran at the time said that “the West has no right to block the project.” The agreement could not be implemented because of US sanctions on Iran.

“Today, the two countries see the border as an opportunity and not a threat, and consider any insecurity on the other side as insecurity for themselves,” Raisi said.

 



Indian Troops Exchanged Fire with Pakistani Soldiers in Disputed Kashmir

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers stand guard at the entrance of the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35kms from Amritsar on April 24, 2025. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers stand guard at the entrance of the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35kms from Amritsar on April 24, 2025. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)
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Indian Troops Exchanged Fire with Pakistani Soldiers in Disputed Kashmir

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers stand guard at the entrance of the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35kms from Amritsar on April 24, 2025. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers stand guard at the entrance of the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35kms from Amritsar on April 24, 2025. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)

Indian officials said the army had a brief exchange of fire with Pakistani soldiers along their highly militarized frontier in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, as the nuclear-armed rivals ramped up tit-for-tat diplomatic offensive following a deadly attack on tourists.

The report of a gunfight comes amid soaring tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad after gunmen killed 26 people near the resort town of Pahalgam in Kashmir on Tuesday. India immediately described the massacre a “terror attack” and said it had “cross border” links, blaming Pakistan for backing it.

Pakistan denied any connection to the attack, which was claimed by a previously unknown militant group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance, The Associated Press said.

Three Indian army officials said that Pakistani soldiers used small arms to fire at an Indian position in Kashmir late Thursday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with departmental policy, said Indian soldiers retaliated and no casualties were reported.

In Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday declined to confirm or deny the report. Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told a news conference that “I will wait for a formal confirmation from the military before I make any comment."

He added there had been no effort yet from any other country to mediate.

In the past, each side has accused the other of starting border skirmishes in Kashmir, which both claim in its entirety.

The United Nations has urged India and Pakistan “to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that the situation and the developments we’ve seen do not deteriorate any further.”

“Any issues between Pakistan and India, we believe can be and should be resolved peacefully, through meaningful, mutual engagement,” the statement said Friday.

Following the attack, India announced a series of diplomatic actions against Pakistan.

New Delhi on Wednesday suspended a crucial water-sharing treaty that has withstood two wars between the two countries and closed the only functional land border crossing between the countries while also cutting the number of diplomatic staff. A day later, India revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals with effect from Sunday.

In retaliation, Pakistan on Thursday responded angrily that it has nothing to do with the attack, and canceled visas issued to Indian nationals, closed its airspace for all Indian-owned or Indian-operated airlines and suspended all trade with India, including to and from any third country.

It also warned that any Indian attempt to stop or divert flow of water would be considered an “act of war” and met with “full force across the complete spectrum” of Pakistan’s national power.

Tuesday’s attack in Kashmir was the worst assault in years, targeting civilians in the restive region that has seen an anti-India rebellion for more than three decades.

India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir. New Delhi describes all militancy in Kashmir as Pakistan-backed terrorism. Pakistan denies this, and many Muslim Kashmiris consider the militants to be part of a home-grown freedom struggle.