Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has stated that it is in the interest of both Iran and Pakistan to restore their relationship to the levels before Tehran violated the country’s airspace. On Tuesday, Iran launched attacks in Pakistan, targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan, prompting condemnation from Islamabad and downgrading of diplomatic ties. Iran’s strikes are part of a series of attacks carried out in response to recent terrorist attacks in Syria and Iraq, causing concerns about regional stability.
In response, Pakistan struck “hideouts used by terrorist organisations namely Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF)” in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province. According to Iran’s IRNA news agency, nine people were killed in the attack targeting a village in the city of Saravan.
This prompted PM Kakar, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, to cut short his visit. Iran condemned the strikes and summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires “to protest and request an explanation from the Pakistani government”.
The National Security Committee convened an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and lauded the response by the armed forces of Pakistan. The forum expressed the need for mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Iran to address each other’s security concerns in the larger interest of regional peace and stability.
The top diplomats of both countries agreed to de-escalate the situation and strengthen coordination on counter-terrorism. Iran’s foreign ministry stated that influential countries such as Iran and Pakistan are expected to maintain unity, while FM Jilani invited his Iranian counterpart to visit Islamabad.
The Iranian embassy in Islamabad expressed hope for a “new record” in de-escalation between the two countries, and Pakistan’s additional secretary for West Asia appreciated Iran’s constructive efforts. Iranian Ambassador Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam affirmed his country’s commitment to the territorial integrity of Pakistan.
The ISPR announced that hideouts used by BLA and BLF were successfully targeted in the military operation. The army’s media wing stated that “dialogue and cooperation” was deemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues between the two brotherly countries.
The Foreign Office had stated that Pakistan took military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Iran due to lack of action on its concerns about safe havens for Pakistani origin terrorists in Iran. The statement emphasized that Pakistan’s sole objective was in pursuit of its own security and national interest.
Pakistan reaffirmed its respect for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and continued to emphasize dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges, including terrorism.