Pakistan in the Iran–Iraq War

The Pakistani military initiated a covert regime change action under Chief of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Shariff by imposing martial law in all of the country in 1979. In 1980, the Iranian Revolution, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, evoked a strong reaction throughout the Muslim world. The spillover of the revolution worried the Arab world, as well the military government of Pakistani President General Zia-ul-Haq.

His religiously-influenced military government provided a rare opportunity, and the political change in Pakistan and the Islamic Revolution in Iran suited well to both countries and so no diplomatic or political rift occurred between them.[5] Responding swiftly to the great revolutionary change, Pakistani Foreign Minister Agha Shahi immediately paid a state visit to Tehran and met Iranian Foreign Minister Karim Sanjabi on March 10, 1979.[5] Both countries expressed confidence by stating that they would march together to a brighter future.[5] The next day, Agha Shahi held talks with Ruhollah Khomeini in which developments in the region were discussed.[5]

On 11 April 1979, Zia famously declared, "Khomeini is a symbol of Islamic insurgence".[5] Reciprocating President Zia's sentiments, Imam Khomeini in his letter called for Muslim unity[5] and declared, "Ties with Pakistan are based on Islam."[5] By 1981, Zia-ul-Haq was close allies with the United States again and came under the latter's sphere of influence for a long time.[5]

In 1980, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein decided to invade Iran.[2] Reportedly, Pakistan also began to supply conventional weapons to Iran, and both neighbours supported the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union but different factions of the resistance.[2]

Military assistance and co-operation increased in support to Iran, and Pakistan never openly supported Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War despite tremendous pressure from the United States and Saudi Arabia.[6] There are reports of Pakistan financially helping Iran at the operational level.[6] The Pakistani military officials strongly objected killing of Iranian pilgrim riot by the Saudi Arabian Army on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in 1985.[1] Conversely, Pakistan exported and sold numbers of Chinese and US weapons to Iran, specifically the Silkworm and Stinger missiles which proved to be a crucial integrating factor in the Tanker War; they had originally been bounded for the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviets.[7]