TEHRAN- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a recent telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, highlighted the discord fostered by "dominating powers" between Tehran and Islamabad. 

In their discussion on Thursday, President Raisi lauded the resilience of Islamic youth against various threats, including from takfiri groups like Daesh, underscoring the importance of cooperation in combating terrorism to thwart the agenda of adversaries and bolster friendship between Tehran and Islamabad.

Raisi extended Eid al-Fitr greetings to Pakistan, acknowledging the re-election of President Asif Ali Zardari and emphasizing the deep-rooted historical ties between the two nations, founded on shared religious, cultural, and neighborhood bonds. 

He expressed optimism for enhanced bilateral relations to serve the interests of both countries, pointing to untapped potential in cultural, trade, and energy sectors.

The Iranian president warned against the machinations of "domineering powers," who seek to sow division between Iran and Pakistan, urging concerted efforts to prevent their nefarious intentions and strengthen ties between the two Islamic nations.

Touching upon the ongoing atrocities in Gaza by the Zionist regime, Raisi lamented the plight of the Palestinian people and called for collective action from freedom-seeking and independent nations to pressure the aggressor and halt the bloodshed.

President Zardari, for his part, reciprocated Eid al-Fitr greetings to Iran and condemned the recent attack on the Iranian embassy's consular section in Damascus by the Zionist regime. 

Expressing eagerness to enhance relations, Zardari highlighted the cultural and civilizational affinities between Iran and Pakistan as fertile ground for expanding cooperation across various domains.

Both leaders echoed concerns over regional security threats and reiterated their commitment to joint efforts in combating terrorism while preserving the integrity of their friendly relations. 

Zardari also emphasized the imperative for Muslim and independent countries to unite against the Zionist regime's crimes in Gaza.

In the end, Zardari extended a formal invitation for President Raisi to visit Pakistan, expressing anticipation for the visit in the near future.

The two neighboring countries witnessed an escalation of cross-border tensions over Iran's counter-terrorism operations. On January 16, Iran launched simultaneous drone and missile attacks on two bases of Jaish ul-Adl, a terror outfit that was formed in 2012 and has conducted several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years.

The group claimed responsibility for an attack in December 2023 on a police station in the southeastern city of Rask that killed at least 11 Iranian police officers.

On January 10, another attack by the group on a police station in the city killed one officer.

Pakistan carried out strikes on January 17 against, what it called were, bases of the separatist Baloch Liberation Front and Baloch Liberation Army in regions close to Iran’s border which Tehran slammed as unbalanced.

The two countries fully restored ties in the next weeks as ambassadors resumed duties in late January.