Pakistan strikes militant targets in Iran day after 'serious consequences' warning

Pakistan, who warned Tehran of “consequences” over its deadly missile and drone strike in Balochistan, on Thursday reportedly launched air raids on militant targets within Iranian territories.

Pakistan striking militant targets in Iran were confirmed by several reports in Pakistani media which said the country attacked the posts of two Baloch separatist groups — the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

The strikes by Pakistan were carried out a day after Iran carried out missile and drone attack on the Jaish al-Adl group’s headquarters in Balochistan.

The attack resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to three others in Balochistan.

Iran called the attack at the Jaish al-Adl group’s headquarters in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province “another decisive step taken by Iran in response to the aggression against the security of our country”.

Tehran’s foreign minister acknowledged Iranian operation and claimed that the strikes were aimed at Jaish al-Adl, a group Iran considers a terrorist organisation operating within Pakistan.

Jaish ul-Adl, or the “Army of Justice,” is a terrorist group blacklisted by Iran and largely operates across the border in Pakistan. Founded in 2012, the group has carried out several attacks on Iranian soil in the recent years.

Condemning “violation of its airspace,” Pakistan warned Iran that such actions can have “serious consequences”.

“Last night’s unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty by Iran is 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’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this “illegal act” and the responsibility for the consequences will lie “squarely” with Iran, Islamabad said.

“We have conveyed this message to the Iranian Government. We have also informed them that 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. We have also decided to suspend all high level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in coming days,” the spokesperson added.

With inputs from agencies