Pakistan on Wednesday warned Iran of severe consequences after the later said it carried out strikes on militant bases of Jaish ul-Adl terror group in the country.
Iran claimed the attacks were carried out on the two bases of terror group Jaish ul-Adl in Balochistan province of Pakistan.
State-run Mehr news agency reported that the Jaish ul-Adl’s bases targeted in the Kuhe Sabz area were one of the largest bases of the terror group.
“These bases were hit and destroyed by missiles and drones,” Iranian state media reported, without elaborating.
The move has potentially further raised tensions in a Middle East already roiled by Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The attack inside of nuclear-armed Pakistan by Iran would threaten the relations between the two countries.
Historically, both the countries have long eyed each other with suspicion while maintaining diplomatic relations.
Iran’s attack on Pakistan follows its strikes on Iraq and Syria less than a day earlier, as Tehran lashes out following a dual suicide bombing this month claimed by the Sunni militant group Islamic State that killed over 90 people.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency and state television had said that missiles and drones were used in the strikes in Pakistan.
Jaish al-Adl, or the “Army of Justice”, is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 which largely operates across the border in Pakistan.
Iran’s Press TV attributed the attack to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
Iran has fought in border areas against the militants but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.
Pakistan condemns Iran’s action, warns of ‘consequences:
Pakistan has issued a condemnation of Iran’s “violation of its airspace”.
It also warned the neighbouring country that such actions can have “serious consequences”.
Pakistan also summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey its “strongest condemnation of this blatant violation” of its sovereignty, PTI reported.
The Foreign Office of Pakistan also described Iran’s act as “unprovoked violation of its airspace” in its statement.
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 said the attack resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to three others.
“Pakistan vehemently protest the violation of its sovereignty. It is completely unacceptable and it may have serious consequences,” the Foreign Office of Pakistan said.
Pakistan expressed concern that the “illegal act took place despite the existence of several established channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran”.
“A strong protest has already been lodged with the senior official concerned in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran. Additionally, the Iranian charge d’affaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,” it added.
The Foreign Office of Pakistan further said, “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.”
