ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office confirmed on Wednesday Iran had launched attacks inside its territory in which two children were killed, warning Tehran of “serious consequences” of violating its sovereignty.
The foreign office spokesperson’s statement came in response to reports on Iranian state media that Tehran had launched attacks in Pakistan on Tuesday to target alleged bases of the Jaish Al-Adl militant group that Iran says has previously mounted attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran which resulted in the deaths of two innocent children while injuring three girls,” the foreign office’s statement said. “This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences.”
Pakistan’s statement did not mention the location of the incident, nor the nature of the airspace violation, but said it had lodged a protest with Tehran and the head of the Iranian mission in Islamabad had been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,” Pakistan’s statement said, adding that the incident had occurred despite the existence of several channels of communication with Iran.
On Monday, Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards also attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.
Pakistan has a complex relationship with Iran, with which it shares a long border rife with cross-border militant activity.
Relations between the two neighbors are often strained as both sides accuse each other of not doing enough to stamp out militants allegedly sheltering across the border.
