Gunmen kill Pak Nationals: Nine Pakistani workers were killed by unidentified gunmen in Iran’s restive southeastern border region on Saturday (January 27), amid efforts to ease tensions between Islamabad and Tehran.
About a week before this incident, the two neighbors had fired missiles at each other’s areas, in which about a dozen people, including at least two children, were reportedly killed.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has said that it is in touch with Iranian authorities regarding the horrific and despicable killings by terrorists in Iran.
Iran’s news agency gave this report
Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that unidentified armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighborhood of Sarvan city in Sistan-Baluche province.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said only that all those killed were foreign nationals. However, Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran, Muddasir Tipu, later confirmed that all the deceased were Pakistani citizens.
Muddasir Tipu said, “Deeply shocked by the horrific murder of 9 Pakistanis in Sarwan. The embassy will provide full assistance to the bereaved families. He further said, “We called on Iran to provide full cooperation in this matter.”
The killed people worked at an auto repair shop.
Baloch rights group Halwash said on its website that those killed were Pakistani workers who lived at an auto repair shop where they worked. Three others were injured.
This is a horrific and disgusting incident – Pakistan Foreign Office
Pakistan Foreign Office spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “This is a horrific and despicable incident and we unequivocally condemn it.” “We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have stressed the need to immediately investigate the incident and bring those involved in this heinous crime to justice.”
He said that Pakistan’s consul in Zahedan is going to the hospital, where the injured are being treated. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “Such cowardly attacks cannot deter Pakistan from its determination to fight terrorism.”
Acting Foreign Minister of Pakistan said this
Pakistan’s acting Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said that he is saddened by the death of Pakistanis in the terrorist attack in Iran. Jilani said, “This heinous attack is an attempt by our common enemies to spoil the relations between Pakistan and Iran. Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, urged the Iranian government to take action.
Saddened over the death of Pakistanis in Iran in a terrorist attack.This heinous attack is an attempt to spoil relations between Pakistan and Iran by our common enemies. While offering condolences to the families of victims, urge the Iranian government for action. @Amirabdolahian
— Jalil Abbas Jilani (@JalilJilani) January 27, 2024
The incident took place amid rising tensions when the Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors were returning to their postings after being recalled. Iran and Pakistan had launched missile attacks in each other’s areas last week. Both countries had said that their targets were terrorists.
Iran attacked Jaish al-Adl bases in Pakistan
On January 16, Iran carried out attacks targeting the hideouts of terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in the border city of Panjgur in Balochistan in Pakistan, which was strongly condemned by Islamabad and downgraded diplomatic relations.
Less than 48 hours later, Pakistan, in an intelligence operation, attacked targets used by terrorist organizations Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province.
Iranian Foreign Minister may visit Islamabad on Sunday
This incident of killing of Pakistani citizens in Iran happened at a time when Iran’s Foreign Minister Husain Amir Abdullahian is scheduled to visit Pakistan the very next day i.e. Sunday (January 29). Last week, both the countries had said that they were taking steps to reduce the tension.