Pakistan appears to have retaliated against Tehran for violating its airspace more than a day prior by conducting early-morning airstrikes on terrorist hideouts in Iran’s Siestan-o-Balochistan province on Thursday.
Shortly afterward, the Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement confirming the unusual step.
“Pakistan launched a series of precisely targeted, well-coordinated military attacks this morning against terrorist hideouts in the Iranian province of Siestan-o-Baluchistan. The FO statement stated that several terrorists were slain during the intelligence-based operation known as “Marg Bar Sarmachar.”
🔊: PR NO. 1️⃣7️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣
Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar
🔗⬇️ https://t.co/1n5BvtEZBZ pic.twitter.com/VVf5VwL00L
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) January 18, 2024
In a quick response to the Iranian missile strikes, Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from Iran and expelled Tehran’s representative the day before, while deliberations about what to do next were ongoing.
Despite tense prior relations between the two nations, Pakistan had to return its representative from Iran for the first time. This demonstrates how tense things are between the two neighbors.
The swift decline in relations was brought on by Iran’s Tuesday missile and drone strikes within Pakistan. Iran asserted that the strikes targeted two “terrorist bases” belonging to the terrorist organization Jaish-al Adl, which is based in the region of Sistan-Baluchistan in Iran.
Pakistan issued a dire warning, harshly denouncing Iran’s “unprovoked violation of its airspace” and threatening dire repercussions. Islamabad refuted the Iranian allegations, stating that three girls were hurt and two innocent children were murdered in the strikes.
The FO said today, “Pakistan has consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorists of Pakistani origin who go by the name Sarmachars on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran over the last several years in our engagements with Iran.” Pakistan also provided numerous dossiers with hard proof of these terrorists’ existence and activity.
However, these so-called Sarmachars continued to kill innocent Pakistanis with impunity due to a lack of response to our grave concerns. The operation performed this morning was motivated by reliable information indicating that these so-called Sarmachars are planning large-scale terrorist attacks.”
“A manifestation of Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats,” Pakistan insisted, was the statement made regarding today’s operation.
The fact that this extremely complicated operation was carried out successfully also attests to the professionalism of the Pakistani military. Pakistan will keep doing everything in its power to protect the security and safety of its people, which is sacred, untouchable, and sacrosanct,” the statement continued.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are completely respected by Pakistan. The FO insisted that the act’s only goal was to further Pakistan’s security and national interest, which are of utmost importance and cannot be jeopardized.
Reuters was informed by a Pakistani intelligence source that military aircraft carried out the strikes.
“Our forces have carried out operations to target Baloch militants within Iran,” the capital city of Islamabad’s intelligence officer declared.
He went on, “The targeted militants are members of the banned Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).”
“Pakistan embraces the goals and ideals of the UN Charter, including member states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity, as a responsible member of the international community. Pakistan would never permit the challenge of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, under any circumstances or pretext, as long as we are guided by these principles and exercising our legal rights under international law.”
According to the FO, Pakistani citizens “have great respect and affection for the Iranian people,” and Iran is a “brotherly country.”
“We have always emphasized dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism and will continue to endeavour to find joint solutions,” the conclusion of the FO statement.
FO spokesman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a press conference later in the day that Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar was only conducted to target the terrorists who were living in Iran and were part of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
Mumtaz stated that Pakistan loved and respected Iran, its friendly neighbor, and its people.
She continued by saying that the Pakistan Army carried out an intelligence-driven operation and eliminated militants based on proof that the terrorists had been in Iran.
🔴LIVE: Spokesperson’s Weekly Press Briefing 18-01-24 at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad https://t.co/AC7I1mmWV5
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) January 18, 2024
The competent execution of such a complicated operation, she continued, was evidence of Pakistan’s military’s professionalism and demonstrated that the nation could defend itself while still exercising caution for the security of its people.
Pakistan respects the goals and ideals of the United Nations Charter as an accountable member of the global community. We have consistently prioritised communication and collaboration to tackle shared issues, such as the menace of terrorism. Up to now, there has been no communication from the Iranian government in the last few hours, the speaker stated.
The spokesman claimed that Pakistan and Iran had communicated for several months over the BLA and BLF terrorist groups’ presence in the country and that Iran was highly regarded as a sister country.
She asserted that Iran has not yet disclosed any information about the strike in their area.
Mumtaz declared, “Pakistan can successfully defend itself against all threats.” “Everyone was taken aback by what transpired two days ago,” she continued.
Iran has summoned the Pakistani chargé d’affaires in protest of the ‘attack’ on the province in the southeast of the country, according to Press TV in Iran.
“In the absence of the nation’s ambassador to Tehran, the Pakistani diplomat was called to the ministry on Thursday to provide an explanation regarding multiple explosions that occurred in various locations near the city of Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan province, near the border with Pakistan, earlier in the day,” Press TV reported.
Nine foreign nationals—two men, three women, and four children—were slain in the attack, according to Iran’s deputy governor of the region, Alireza Marhamati.
Marhamati said that the matter was being looked into by Iranian security personnel. Later in the day, Ahmad Vahidi, the Iranian Interior Minister, confirmed the numbers.
“An informed source strongly condemned the attack and said Iran has demanded Pakistan’s immediate explanation about the attack,” the Iranian news agency added.
In a statement, Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi declared that his country would take all necessary precautions to protect its territory and would not compromise on either.
In the Iranian region of Siestan-o-Baluchistan, he praised the “professionalism of the Armed Forces of Pakistan that targeted the terrorist hideouts, while avoiding the civilian casualties.”
The president insisted that “terrorism was a common challenge that required global efforts for its elimination,” according to the statement. According to him, Pakistan fully upholds the territorial integrity and sovereignty of every state, and it expects other countries to follow suit by abiding by international law.
“Pakistan and Iran were brotherly countries and they needed to resolve issues through dialogue and mutual consultation,” the president declared.
Analysts said that despite Islamabad’s statements following its retaliatory strikes, the dispute might spiral out of control.
Asfandyr Mir, a senior researcher on South Asian security at the U. Institute of Peace, told Reuters that “Iran’s motivation for attacking Pakistan remains opaque but in light of broader Iranian behavior in the region it can escalate.”
“What will cause anxiety in Tehran is that Pakistan has crossed a line by hitting inside Iranian territory, a threshold that even the US and Israel have been careful to not breach.”
Both of the targeted groups are active in the regions of Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province and Pakistan’s Balochistan. Both are relatively undeveloped, mineral-rich, and restless.
Islamabad’s goal, the BLF, is an armed insurgency fighting the Iranian government. Affected parties include investments made in Balochistan and Chinese nationals.
Iran also targeted the Jaish-al Adl, a jihadist organization that frequently targets Iranian security personnel. Additionally, the gang has launched operations against the formidable Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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