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. 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 10 March 1979. 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. 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. ==References==