Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League party Nawaz Sharif (centre) along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz waving to supporters during an election campaign rally in Lahore. If they win, they face complex foreign policy challenges. — AFP
FOREIGN policy challenges for the next government have become even more complex after Pakistan and Iran traded airstrikes last week. Relations between the two neighbours have been uneasy even at the best of times. The presence of armed groups on both sides of the border has long been a sticking point.
But the Iranian air strike against a militant group inside Pakistani territory sparked unprecedented tensions and evoked a strong response from Islamabad. A Foreign Office statement condemned the “unprovoked violation of its airspace” and warned of “serious consequences.” Iran’s action drove relations to a historic low, compelling Islamabad to retaliate by conducting military strikes against militant targets in Iran.
