Unidentified assailants perpetrated the tragic killing of nine Pakistani workers in a turbulent southeastern border vicinity of Iran on Saturday, as confirmed by Pakistan's ambassador and a rights group, amid ongoing endeavors by both nations to repair strained relations following retaliatory strikes.
Expressing profound dismay over the appalling loss of life in Saravan, Pakistani Ambassador to Tehran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipi, conveyed his solidarity with the grieving families via the X platform. "The embassy stands ready to offer comprehensive assistance to the bereaved families," he affirmed while urging Iran to cooperate fully in addressing the incident.
According to the Baluch rights group Haalvash, which disseminated details on its website, the victims were Pakistani laborers residing and working at an automotive repair establishment. Additionally, three individuals sustained injuries in the incident, the group noted.
Iranian state media, refraining from disclosing the victims' identities, merely identified them as foreign nationals and indicated that no entities or factions had claimed responsibility for the assault in Saravan, situated in the restive Sistan-Baluchestan province.
In unequivocal condemnation of the heinous act, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch emphasized the imperative of an immediate investigation and the prosecution of those accountable. "We remain engaged with Iranian authorities, emphasizing the urgency of probing the matter promptly and ensuring justice," Baloch remarked.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of the return of Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors to their respective diplomatic posts following recent hostilities, as each nation exchanged missile strikes targeting purported militant enclaves.
During an audience with Ambassador Mudassir Tipi to present his credentials on Saturday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi underscored the significance of safeguarding the Iran-Pakistan border to foster economic exchanges. "The border between Iran and Pakistan represents an avenue for mutually beneficial economic interactions and must be shielded from any threats to stability," Raisi asserted, as per state media reports.
The Sistan-Baluchestan region, grappling with economic hardship, has been a recurrent theater of clashes between security forces and separatist insurgents, as well as smugglers trafficking opium from Afghanistan, the world's primary opium producer.
Iran's notably low fuel prices have contributed to a surge in fuel smuggling to neighboring Pakistan and Afghanistan, notwithstanding concerted efforts by Iranian border authorities to curb illicit activities.
