Relations between Pakistan and Iran date back to the common prehistoric
Indo-Iranian heritage (which connects all of
Greater Persia with the Vedic Civilization of Pakistan) from 3000-2000 BC and the
Indo-Parthian and
Indo-Scythian kingdoms of antiquity to the strongly
Persianized Islamic empires in South Asia and the Middle East in the 13th to 19th centuries. Today relations between
Islamabad and
Tehran are based on bilateral relations between the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the
Islamic Republic of Iran. Pakistan and Iran are neighbours, connected by the
Balochistan region split between them. There is a long history of contact and mutual influence between the two nations, with segments of Pakistani culture directly descended from Iranian cultures.
During the rule of
Shah of Iran, Iran's relations with Pakistan were at their peak. However, after the
Iranian Revolution, the relations between both states at times have been extremely strained and cold due to Pakistan's immensely close alliance with Arab countries especially Gulf States. Moreover, Pakistan's geo-political aspirations, sectarian differences as Iran is a
Shia state and Pakistan a mixed muslim state, internal and external factors have sorely impacted relations between both countries.
Country comparison
History before 1947
Pre-Aryan civilizations
The history of the Persian-Indo-Aryan relations back to the era of contact between the people of the
Indus Valley civilization and the early
Elamites. The......
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