ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemned the “horrifying” killing of nine Pakistanis in southeast Iran, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Saturday, amid efforts from both sides to restore ties after last week’s tit-for-tat strikes in each other’s territory.
The nine Pakistani workers were killed by unidentified gunmen in Iran’s restive southeastern border area of Saravan on Saturday, according to Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran and a rights group.
Haalvash, the Baluch rights group, said on its website the victims were Pakistani laborers who lived at an auto repair shop where they worked. Three others were wounded, it added.
Iran’s state media identified the dead only as foreign nationals and said no individuals or groups had claimed responsibility for the killings in Saravan in the restless Sistan-Baluchestan province.
“It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally,” Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement.
“We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime.”
The development came a day after Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors returned to their posts after being recalled when both countries exchanged missile strikes last week at what they said were militant targets.
The strikes by the two countries were the highest-profile cross-border intrusions in recent years, however, both countries quickly moved to de-escalate tensions.
“Our Consul in Zahedan is on way to the hospital where injured people are being treated and will reach there in a few hours due to long distances and security imperatives involved,” Baloch said.
“He will also meet local authorities, and among other things, impress upon them the urgent need for strong action against the perpetrators of this crime.”
The impoverished Sistan-Baluchestan region has long been the scene of sporadic clashes between security forces and separatist militants and smugglers.
Iran has some of the lowest fuel prices in the world and this has also led to an increase in fuel-smuggling to Pakistan and Afghanistan despite a crackdown by Iranian border guards.
Islamabad condemns ‘horrifying’ killing of nine Pakistanis in Iran amid efforts to mend ties
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Islamabad condemns ‘horrifying’ killing of nine Pakistanis in Iran amid efforts to mend ties
- Unidentified gunmen killed nine Pakistani workers in Iran’s restive southeastern border area of Saravan, according to Pakistan’s envoy
- The development comes day after Pakistani, Iranian envoys returned to posts after being recalled following last week’s tit-for-tat strikes
Punjab expands Pakistan-India Wagah border arena with museum, partition-themed park
- The border crossing, near eastern city of Lahore, is the primary land route between Pakistan and India and one of the most recognizable symbols of their often-tense relations
- The site is best known for its daily flag-lowering ceremony, a choreographed military ritual performed by border forces from both countries that draws thousands of spectators
ISLAMABAD: Maryam Nawaz, chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed arena at Wagah border cross between Pakistan and India, which includes a museum and a partition themed park.
The Wagah border crossing, located near the eastern city of Lahore, is the primary land route between Pakistan and India and one of the most recognizable symbols of the often-tense relationship between the two neighbors. It serves as a key point for prisoner exchanges and limited movement of travelers, while remaining tightly regulated due to security considerations.
The site is best known for its daily flag-lowering ceremony, a choreographed military ritual performed by border forces from both countries that draws thousands of spectators. Over the years, the ceremony has evolved into a popular tourist attraction, blending displays of nationalism with public spectacle and making it one of Pakistan’s most visited landmarks, which connects with India’s Attari.
Flanked by military officials, CM Nawaz visited the crossing and inaugurated the new arena, with its seating capacity increased from 7,500 to 25,000 spectators, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported. The chief minister also visited the martyrs’ monument and offered her respects.
“In addition to the arena’s expansion, several new constructions have been added at the Joint Check Post Wagah. These new developments include a theme park depicting the partition of the Subcontinent, featuring models of a railway station, military equipment and a Martyrs’ Memorial,” the broadcaster reported.
“A Pakistan Museum has also been established within the arena, showcasing the country’s history and culture from the Freedom Movement to the present day.”
In August 1947, Britain divided the Indian Sub-continent, its former colony, into two countries — Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.
Excitement over independence was quickly overshadowed by some of the worst bloodletting that left up to 1 million people dead as gangs of Hindus and Muslims slaughtered each other.
Creating two independent nations also tore apart millions of Hindu and Muslim families in one of the world’s largest peacetime migrations, which displaced at least 15 million people.
The fate of Kashmir, then a princely state, was left undecided. The Himalayan territory continues to remain a flashpoint in relations between the neighbors, who have fought multiple wars over it.
