In a significant escalation of tensions, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Tuesday targeting two bases of the Balochi militant group Jaish al Adl in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The attack resulted in the tragic deaths of two children and injuries to three others. Tehran claimed the strikes were in response to Jaish al Adl using Pakistani soil to launch terror attacks on Iranian security forces.
Pakistan swiftly condemned the attack, characterizing it as an “unprovoked violation of its airspace” and warning of “serious consequences.” The Foreign Office of Pakistan summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires, lodging a strong protest and emphasizing the breach of sovereignty.
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Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed shock at the breach, stating it went against the spirit of friendship between the two nations. He called for sincere dialogue and meaningful cooperation, emphasizing the need to uphold the historic relationship.
The strikes occurred amid diplomatic engagements, with Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar meeting Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Iranian president’s representative for Afghanistan had also recently visited Islamabad.
Jaish al Adl, founded in 2012, is a Sunni militant group operating mainly in Pakistan. The group has been implicated in attacks on Iranian security forces in the border region. Last month, Jaish al Adl was blamed for an attack in Sistan-Baluchestan that killed 11 Iranian police officers.
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The troubled Balochistan province has witnessed heightened terror activities over the years, with various banned religious terror and separatist outfits using its soil to target security personnel and installations. The latest incident threatens to further strain the already complex dynamics in the region.
