Islamabad: Pakistan executed strikes within Iranian territory on Thursday, targeting separatist Baloch militants, as confirmed by its foreign ministry. This move comes in response to Tehran's recent attack on the bases of another group within Pakistani borders, marking a notable cross-border intrusion that has escalated tensions between the two neighbors.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that these strikes have raised concerns about regional instability, coinciding with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas since October 7. Iran's allies have also become involved in the conflict from various locations, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
In light of these events, Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-haq Kakar, is cutting short his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos to return home, according to a statement from the foreign ministry spokesperson.
Earlier reports from Iranian media indicated that several missiles struck a village in the Sistan-Baluchestan province, bordering Pakistan, resulting in the tragic death of three women and four children who were non-Iranian nationals.
Pakistan's foreign ministry released a statement characterizing the operation as a "series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts." The ministry emphasized that Pakistan fully respects Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, attributing the strikes to the pursuit of its own security and national interests.
Amidst growing tensions, Iran has demanded an explanation for the strikes, and Pakistan's charge d'affaires in Tehran has been summoned, as reported by Iran's Tasnim news agency. Pakistan, in turn, reiterated its commitment to its own security and national interests, emphasizing that today's actions were essential and could not be compromised.
The situation has raised concerns about potential escalation, with experts warning that the motivation behind Iran's attack on Pakistan remains unclear. Pakistan's retaliatory strikes signal an effort to contain the conflict, but analysts express caution about the possibility of the situation spiraling out of control.
The recent exchange of strikes involves two ethnically Baloch militant groups, namely the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) targeted by Pakistan in Iran and the Jaish al Adl (JAA) targeted by Iran in Pakistan. While the BLF is engaged in armed insurgency against the Pakistani state, the JAA, with Sunni Islamist leanings, poses a threat to Shiite Iran.
As both countries navigate this delicate situation, the international community closely watches for any further developments and potential repercussions in the already volatile Middle East region.
