ALBAWABA - The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement regarding reports of a "terrorist incident" that resulted in the killing of Pakistani nationals in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran.
The statement, released on the ministry's official website, reads: "It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally. We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime".
The statement ensured that the Pakistani Consul in Zahedan headed to the hospital where injured people are being treated and will be meeting with local authorities to "impress upon them the urgent need for strong action against the perpetrators of this crime".
Earlier on January 27, an attack was carried out by unknown gunmen which resulted in the killing of 9 people who are believed to be Pakistani nationals. A report by the semiofficial Mehr news agency said the shooting took place in a home near the town of Saravan, in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province. It added that the victims were not Iranian.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Jalil Abbas Jilani, took to X to condemn the attack. "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,".
HalVash, a Baluch advocacy group, shared images online of what appeared to be the victims' bodies and reported that three more people were injured. It said they were Pakistani nationals and identified four of them, adding that all of the victims worked at an auto repair shop.
Last week, Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes in the same area, purportedly targeting militant safe houses in an attack that killed at least nine. The strikes came after Iran launched an attack on Pakistani soil on Tuesday, killing two children in the country's southwestern Balochistan province.
The rivalry attacks appeared to be directed at two Baluch militant groups with similar separatist goals on either side of the Iran-Pakistan border. The two countries have accused each other of providing safe havens for the groups on their respective territories.
According to media reports, both Iranian and Pakistani ambassadors resumed activities in their respective capitals on Friday that had been halted following the attacks.
