Pakistan attacks Iran: Pakistan military reportedly attacked the posts of two Baloch separatist groups.
Pakistan on Thursday carried out strikes against militant groups in Iran, a day after warning Tehran of “serious consequences” over its attack on the Jaish al-Adl group’s headquarters in its territory. Pakistan military reportedly attacked the posts of two Baloch separatist groups — the Balochistan Liberation Front and the Balochistan Liberation Army — near the city of Saravan in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province.
“I can only confirm that we have conducted strikes against anti-Pakistan militant groups that were targeted inside Iran,” a senior intelligence source told the news agency AFP, adding that a government statement would follow later in the morning.
The retaliatory strikes came after Iran attacked “terrorist targets” in Pakistan late Tuesday — an attack that Islamabad claimed killed two children.
Condemning Iran’s “violation of its airspace”, Pakistan warned the neighbouring country that such actions can have “serious consequences”.
“Last night’s unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this “illegal act” and the responsibility for the consequences will lie “squarely” with Iran, the Ministry said.
“We have conveyed this message to the Iranian Government. We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being. We have also decided to suspend all high level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in coming days,” the spokesperson added.
Jaish al-Adl, which is blacklisted by Iran as a terrorist group, was formed in 2012 and has carried out several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years.
Iran carrying out a strike on Pakistan territory and Islamabad’s retaliation come amid the Hamas-Israel conflict in the Middle East and rising attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.(Agencies)
