Nournews: Unlike many purely political models, relations between Iran and Pakistan run deep into their historical, social, and cultural layers. Linguistic, cultural, religious, and literary affinities have created a natural foundation for convergence—one that has manifested itself in unwavering support at critical historical junctures. A notable example is the strong backing of the Pakistani people for Iran during the twelve-day war against the U.S.–Zionist project, demonstrating that ties between the two nations go beyond formal interactions and have reached a level of strategic fraternity. Long shared borders and social commonalities among border communities have also turned these capacities into security and economic imperatives, further underscoring the need for sustainable cooperation.

Security: The backbone of a new era in relations

In recent years, interactions between Tehran and Islamabad have gained remarkable momentum, with the multidimensional nature of bilateral relations becoming increasingly prominent. Successive visits by senior officials—including the president, the parliament speaker, and military delegations—alongside security coordination for Arbaeen ceremonies, illustrate a strategic will to move from episodic relations toward structural cooperation.

However, such broad relations cannot materialize without the foundation of sustainable security. In this context, Larijani’s visit as Iran’s top security official is not a ceremonial gesture, but a structural move to strengthen deep linkages across security, economic, trade, energy, and transportation sectors. The two sides’ emphasis on raising the trade volume from three to ten billion dollars, and the signing of twelve cooperation documents—including a free trade agreement, barter arrangements, and the development of banking and logistical infrastructure—indicates that security is becoming the driving engine of bilateral development. This trip could also accelerate the operationalization of long-delayed projects such as the Peace Pipeline and joint port and maritime initiatives.

Joint confrontation of threats and regional destabilizers

Shared threats posed by actors disrupting regional order have created a new urgency for enhanced security coordination between Iran and Pakistan. Some extra-regional powers—after their humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan—are now seeking a return by supporting terrorist groups along the Iran–Pakistan border, aiming to undermine regional independence. Countering this approach requires structured coordination between the security apparatuses of Tehran and Islamabad, following a model previously employed between Iran and Iraq that yielded stable security and strengthened political and economic cooperation.

Within this context, Larijani’s visit could reinforce joint security mechanisms and create operational security that enables the implementation of economic agreements. As the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council has stressed, Iran and Pakistan are two decisive actors in ensuring sustainable regional security, and direct engagement at this level can raise the region’s strategic weight.

Rapid regional changes and the need for neighborly convergence

West and South Asia are currently experiencing one of the most transformative periods in their modern history. From Pakistan’s tensions with Afghanistan and India, to the rising activity of terrorist and separatist groups, and the suspicious U.S. bid to reenter Afghanistan—all have reshaped the region’s security landscape. At the same time, structural changes in the international system, the rise of multilateralism, the emergence of new blocs such as the SCO and BRICS, and the declining effectiveness of international institutions have highlighted the necessity of indigenous security-building.

Iran and Pakistan are among the pioneers of this trend and have shown that their security and economic destinies are interconnected. It is for this reason that Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan has described Larijani’s visit as a “historic turning point” and a “pivotal moment” in bilateral relations—one that could usher the two nations into a new strategic phase and, through the implementation of past agreements, contribute significantly to shaping the emerging regional and global order.