NEW DELHI: Pakistan has issued a stern condemnation of Iranโs recent airstrike within its borders, denouncing it as an โunprovoked violation of its airspace.โ
The attack targeted bases belonging to the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl, resulting in the death of two children and injuries to three others, according to Pakistanโs Foreign Ministry.
Iran claimed to have used โprecision missile and drone strikesโ to destroy Jaish al-Adl strongholds in the Koh-e-Sabz area of Balochistan province. The militant group, known for its separatist activities, confirmed the attack, stating that six attack drones and rockets were used to target the residences of its fightersโ families.
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In response to the violation, Pakistan lodged a โstrong protestโ with a senior official in Iranโs Foreign Ministry and summoned the Iranian charge dโaffaires, to convey its โstrongest condemnation of this blatant violationโ of its sovereignty
FLASH: Pakistan condemns Iranian airstrike within its borders. In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan labelled it an โunprovoked violation of airspaceโ, stating that two children lost their lives in the incident. #AirStrike #Pakistanโฆ pic.twitter.com/CVPDQZdk9z
โ The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) January 17, 2024
โA strong protest has already been lodged with the senior official concerned in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran. Additionally, the Iranian charge dโaffaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistanโs sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,โ the Pakistan Ministry of External Affairs wrote in the statement.
The Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the โillegal actโ occurring despite existing channels of communication between the two countries.
The location of the attack, Koh-e-Sabz, is known for being the former residence of Jaish-ul-Adlโs second-in-command, Mullah Hashim, who was killed in clashes with Iranian forces in 2018.
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Iranโs actions in Pakistan follow recent missile strikes in northern Iraq and Syria, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The strikes in Iraq targeted what Iran claimed to be a Mossad spy base in Erbil, drawing condemnation from the United States and the United Nations. Iran defended its actions, describing them as a โprecise and targetedโ operation to address security threats.
The situation adds to the growing complexities in the region, with Israelโs ongoing conflict in Gaza raising concerns of a wider regional war. The United States has launched new strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, further intensifying the broader geopolitical landscape.
Pakistan stressed that terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region, requiring coordinated action. The unilateral nature of Iranโs airstrike was deemed inconsistent with good neighbourly relations, potentially undermining bilateral trust and confidence.
