In a moment of historical significance that many people are unaware of, Iran was the very first country in the world to officially recognize Pakistan as an independent and sovereign nation, and it did so on the same day Pakistan came into existence.
Iran and Pakistan established relations on August 14, 1947, the day of the independence of Pakistan, when Iran became the first country to recognize Pakistan. Both countries generally maintain a cordial relationship and have formed alliances in several areas of mutual interest, such as combating the drug trade along their border and the cross-border insurgency in Balochistan.
Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan as an independent state, and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the first head of any state to make an official state visit to Pakistan in March 1950.
This significant gesture laid the foundation for a decades-long relationship defined by mutual respect, shared values, and common regional interests. Unlike other nations that waited to assess Pakistan’s stability or geopolitical relevance, Iran moved quickly and decisively to embrace the new Muslim nation.
Iran and Pakistan signed a Treaty of Friendship in 1950. Iran also supported Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, and both countries cooperated in the 1970s Balochistan operation.
Pakistan was, in turn, one of the first countries to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran after the 1979 Revolution. Despite the tensions of recent decades, this deep-rooted historical bond between Iran and Pakistan remains a remarkable chapter in the foreign policy history of both Muslim nations.
