At least nine people have been killed in Pakistani missile attacks on Iranian targets. Pakistan’s foreign ministry claims the dead were “terrorists” and that the attacks were “precision military strikes”.
Just days after Tehran attacked positions in the neighboring country, Pakistan responded with attacks of its own, reportedly killing at least nine people, many of them children or women.
Pakistani authorities said the strikes targeted “terrorist targets” in the border province of Siestan-o-Baluchistan and claimed to “fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
“The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest, which is paramount and cannot be compromised”, it is said.
🔊: PR NO. 1️⃣7️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣
Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 18, 2024
Iran has demanded an explanation for the attack, but it is doubtful that it will accept Pakistan’s claim that terrorists were killed.
China wants to mediate
Just last Tuesday, Iran struck bases of the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl inside Pakistan, reportedly killing two children and condemning the attack as an “unprovoked violation” of Pakistani airspace.
The Iranian attack is believed to have motivated Pakistan to carry out the shelling, and it has also recalled its ambassador from Iran and prevented Tehran’s envoy from returning to Islamabad.
Other countries appear to be concerned about a possible escalation of the conflict between Sunni-dominated Pakistan and Shiite-dominated Iran and are urging restraint. China has also offered to mediate the conflict.
– The Chinese side sincerely hopes that the two sides can exercise calm and restraint and avoid an escalation of tension, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a press briefing.
– We are also willing to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation if both sides so wish, she continued.
Russia and the EU are also concerned about the developments, calling for calm and dialogue, while the US is content to criticize Iran’s attacks.
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