In the aftermath of a tragic attack in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, where nine Pakistani workers lost their lives and three others were injured, Pakistan has urged a thorough investigation into the incident. The assault occurred amidst heightened tensions between the two nations following recent cross-border exchanges. Unidentified attackers indiscriminately fired upon the workers near the Pakistan-Iran border. While no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack, Iran's Mehr news agency reported the incident.
The Pakistani Foreign Office has called for a comprehensive inquiry into the attack and swift prosecution of those responsible. The Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, condemned the "horrifying and despicable" assault and emphasized the need for immediate investigations by Iranian authorities. Efforts are underway to facilitate the prompt repatriation of the victims' remains, and the Pakistani consul is expected to engage with local authorities to demand decisive action against the perpetrators.
Relatives of the victims protested in Alipur, urging the Pakistani government to ensure the return of their loved ones' bodies to Muzaffargarh. Despite the tragedy, Baloch affirmed that the cowardly attack does not diminish Pakistan's commitment to combating terrorism.
Pakistan's ambassador to Iran, Muddasir Tipu, expressed shock over the killings and assured full support to the bereaved families. He called upon Iran for complete cooperation in addressing the matter. This incident occurred a day before the Iranian foreign minister visited Islamabad, where discussions on border security and challenges posed by militant sanctuaries along the shared border were expected.
This unfortunate event adds to the tensions between Iran and Pakistan, escalating within a week of tit-for-tat strikes by both nations. Pakistan's precision military strikes on alleged terrorist hideouts in Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province were seen as retaliation for Iranian attacks on Baloch militant group Jaish al-Adl bases in Pakistan. The incident led to heightened hostilities, including the recall of ambassadors and temporary blockage of diplomatic missions, before both nations decided to de-escalate and resume diplomatic relations. The recent attack occurred in the same region where Pakistan had conducted retaliatory strikes against Baloch insurgent sanctuaries.
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