- Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Pakistan's air force carried out retaliatory airstrikes on Thursday, targeting alleged militant positions in Iran. The strikes, which took place in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province, resulted in the death of at least seven people.
The airstrikes were in response to Iran's attack on Pakistani soil earlier this week, where two children lost their lives in the Baluchistan province. These incidents have further strained the diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries, both of which have always been suspicious of each other due to ongoing militant attacks.
The recent escalation of violence not only affects the relations between Pakistan and Iran but also poses a threat to regional stability, considering the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In addition, Iran carried out airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in response to an Islamic State–claimed suicide bombing that resulted in over 90 casualties. As a result, Iraq has recalled its ambassador from Iran for consultations.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has stated that these airstrikes were carefully planned and executed with a specific military objective. According to the ministry's statement, the action was taken based on credible intelligence about an imminent large-scale terrorist activity. The ministry emphasized that Pakistan remains committed to protecting its national security against all threats.
These recent developments highlight the volatile situation in the Middle East and the urgent need for dialogue and cooperation among nations to ensure peace and stability in the region.
Insurgent Groups in Iran and Pakistan
Several insurgent groups are operating in Iran and Pakistan, with a common goal of establishing an independent Baluchistan for ethnic Baluch areas in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.
Baluchistan Insurgency
For more than two decades, Baluch nationalists have been engaging in a low-level insurgency in Pakistan's Baluchistan Province and Iran's neighboring Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
Casualties from Iran's Strike
Ali Reza Marhamati, the deputy governor of Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province, provided casualty figures from Thursday's strike. According to him, the attack resulted in the deaths of three women and four children.
Evidence of the Attack
HalVash, an advocacy group for the Baluch people, shared online images that displayed the remnants of the munitions used in the attack. They also released videos showing the destruction of a mud-walled building and smoke rising immediately after the strike in Saravan, a city in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan region.
Pakistan's Response
As a result of Tuesday's strikes by Iran within Pakistan's Baluchistan province, Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Tehran. Iran claimed that the targets were bases belonging to a militant Sunni separatist group. Pakistan strongly condemned the attack, labeling it a "blatant violation" of its airspace and alleging that it resulted in the death of two children.
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