Pakistan on Thursday carried out a retaliatory attack by hitting militant targets in Iran, a day after warning Tehran of “serious consequences” for an “unprovoked breach of airspace” in the latter’s aerial attacks in Balochistan that killed two children. Pakistan had strongly condemned Iran’s strikes and warned that the incident could have “serious consequences” and was “completely unacceptable”, expelling the Iranian ambassador and recalling its envoy from Tehran.

The development came after Iran admitted to carrying out the airstrike in Pakistan and affirmed that they only targeted terrorists. While speaking at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, claimed that no Pakistani citizens had been targeted. The Iranian minister said he had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart and “assured him that we do respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan and Iraq.”

Why did Iran attack Pakistan?

According to the Pakistani government, the missile infiltrated their airspace and killed at least two children. Notably, Tehran’s staunch action on the Panjgur region coincided with a meeting between the Iranian Foreign Minister and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar on the sideline of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

According to al-Arabiya News, the militant group was formed in 2012 and is designated as a “terrorist” organization by Tehran. It has a history of launching multiple attacks on Iranian security forces over the years. According to Iranian media, a police station in Sistan-Baluchistan was attacked wherein at least 11 policemen were killed. Later, the group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistan’s response to Iran attacks

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry, during a press conference, called Tehran’s action an “unprovoked and blatant” breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty. It termed the move as a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. “This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act,” said the foreign ministry.

Later today, Islamabad recalled its ambassador from Iran and the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who is visiting Iran will not be allowed to come back. “Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad.

Additionally, the Iranian Charge d’affaires was summoned to Pakistan’s foreign ministry to raise “strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran”, said the Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office of Pakistan did not mention the location where the casualties took place. However, it is suspected that the bases were in Balochistan. “Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence,” further read the statement.

Last month, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack overnight on a police station in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi, while visiting the site, had urged Pakistan to prevent terrorist groups from establishing bases within its borders, according to Iranian media.

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