ISLAMABAD: A group of militants targeted a Pakistani border post in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province from the Iranian territory, said the Pakistan Army’s media wing on Tuesday, adding that the country had informed the relevant Iranian authorities about the incident.
Last week, Pakistan’s counterterrorism police announced that a suicide bomber who tried to target a caravan of Chinese nationals in August had also arrived in the Pakistani port city of Gwadar from Iran.
The revelation came after the arrest of three members of the Balochistan Liberation Army, a proscribed separatist outfit, which had claimed the responsibility for the attack.
During the course of the interrogation, one of the suspects informed that the mastermind of the Gwadar attack was a resident of Chahbahar in neighboring Iran.
“Terrorists targeted a Frontier Corps border post from Iranian territory with Small Arms fire in general area Chukab, Balochistan,” the military said in its statement. “Due to fire, Sepoy Maqbool Shah of Frontier Corps embraced shahadat [martyrdom] while another soldier was injured. Iranian authorities concerned have been informed about the incident.”
Pakistan has frequently complained about militant attacks from Iran and Afghanistan in the past, making its officials fence its porous border with its two western neighbors.
The country’s top military officials have also maintained they have fenced a large portion of its western frontier, though the challenge of cross-border movement and such militant attacks continue.
Pakistan’s border post in Balochistan targeted by militants from Iranian territory — army
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Pakistan’s border post in Balochistan targeted by militants from Iranian territory — army
- The country’s counterterrorism police recently said last month’s Gwadar attack on Chinese nationals was also planned in Iran
- Pakistan has been trying to fence its western border with Iran and Afghanistan to address cross-border movement, militant threats
Pakistan condemns Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, calls it detrimental to peace in East Africa
- The foreign office reaffirms support for Somalia’s sovereignty, calling Israel’s move illegal and destabilizing for the region
- Islamabad rejects forced displacement of Palestinians amid reports of Israeli outreach to East African states over Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday condemned Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway African region, calling it a violation of international law and reaffirming its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, the foreign office said.
Israel this week announced it had recognized Somaliland — a self-declared region that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has not previously been recognized by any United Nations member state — triggering condemnation from Somalia and criticism from regional bodies.
“Pakistan strongly condemns any attempts to undermine the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, and rejects, in this regard, the announcement made by Israel recognising the independence of the so-called Somaliland region of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“Such illegal and provocative actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law and not only threaten the peace and stability of the brotherly country of Somalia, but also that of the entire region,” it continued. “The international community must step in to reject any such actions, and prevent and deter Israel from undermining the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the broader region.”
The statement also linked the issue to the wider Middle East conflict, with Pakistan reiterating its opposition to any attempts at the forced displacement of Palestinians.
The foreign office’s reference to the issue came in the context of international media reports earlier this year in March, saying Israel and the United States had reached out to East African states, including Somaliland, to take in Palestinians from Gaza.
“Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal rejection of any steps aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land under any circumstances,” the statement said, reaffirming support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Somalia’s government has said Israel’s recognition of Somaliland violates its sovereignty, while the African Union has opposed unilateral recognition of breakaway regions on the continent.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday his country had recognized Somaliland “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” referring to US-brokered deals that helped establish ties between Israel and Arab states.
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