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
Pakistan’s president defends ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, urges Kabul to dismantle militants
- Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday
- Pakistan’s military says it is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president on Monday defended his country’s ongoing military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory, and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it is in “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The border area remains a stronghold for militant organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh (Islamic State) group.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” Asif Ali Zardari said during a speech to lawmakers, adding that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming the killing of 435 Afghan forces and the capture of 31 Afghan positions.
Kabul has denied such claims.
In Afghanistan, the deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Pakistan’s military fired mortar shells at a refugee camp in eastern Kunar province, killing three children and injuring three others.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said Afghan forces carried out strikes targeting a Pakistani military facility near Paktia province, causing “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistan’s military did not respond to questions. It has said Pakistan is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge of violence in recent months and blames it on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. It operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens for the TTP, which Kabul denies.
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October. The two sides failed to reach a permanent agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s call for talks, saying, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani leader again accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India by sheltering militant groups.
“Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he said.
Zardari cited a recent report from the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team that described the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan as an extra-regional threat.
