Shruti Suman
Pakistan conducted air raids on militant targets within Iranian territory on Thursday, a day after Iran’s missile and drone strike in Balochistan. The strike by Iran targeted the headquarters of the Baloch group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistani territory, prompting Islamabad to warn Tehran of “serious consequences.” According to the semi-official Young Journalist Club news agency, missiles launched from Pakistan hit a border village in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province, resulting in the death of at least three women and four children. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that the military strikes were highly coordinated and specifically targeted against terrorist hideouts in the Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran.
In an official statement, the Foreign Ministry emphasized that the action was a manifestation of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to protect and defend its national security against all threats. Despite referring to Iran as a “brotherly country,” Islamabad underscored that the sole objective of the military strikes was to safeguard Pakistan’s security and national interests. The statement reiterated Pakistan’s respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.
The Foreign Ministry also highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding concerns about safe havens and sanctuaries for Pakistani-origin terrorists, known as ‘Sarmachars,’ within ungoverned spaces in Iran. In response to Iran’s actions, Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Iran and suspended all planned high-level bilateral visits on Wednesday. Iran’s missile and drone strikes targeted two bases of the Sunni Baloch militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, following Iran’s previous attacks in Iraq and Syria against alleged terrorist bases. Jaish al-Adl, founded in 2012, is a Baloch Sunni militant group primarily active in Pakistan, and Iran’s missile-and-drone attack on Pakistani territory marks an unprecedented development.
