ISLAMABAD, Jan 18 (Reuters) – Pakistan carried out strikes inside Iran on Thursday, concentrating on separatist militants, the Pakistani overseas ministry mentioned, two days after Tehran mentioned it attacked Israel-linked militant bases inside Pakistani territory.
Iranian media mentioned a number of missiles hit a village within the Sistan-Baluchistan province that borders Pakistan, killing three ladies and 4 kids, all non-Iranians.
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A person in Karachi, Pakistan, appears at a tv display screen after the Pakistani overseas ministry mentioned the nation carried out strikes inside Iran.January 18, 2024. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
“Plenty of terrorists had been killed through the intelligence-based operation,” the Pakistani ministry mentioned in an announcement, describing it as a “collection of extremely coordinated and particularly focused precision army strikes towards terrorist hideouts”.
It added, “Pakistan totally respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“The sole goal of at present’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s personal safety and nationwide curiosity, which is paramount and can’t be compromised.”
A Pakistani intelligence supply advised Reuters the strikes had been carried out by army plane.
“Our forces have carried out strikes to focus on Baloch militants inside Iran,” the intelligence official in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, mentioned.
“The focused militants belong to BLF,” he added, referring to the Balochistan Liberation Front, which seeks independence for Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
Iran mentioned on Tuesday it had focused Israel-linked militant bases inside Pakistan. Pakistan mentioned civilians had been hit and two kids killed, warning of penalties for which Tehran could be accountable.
Islamabad recalled its ambassador from Iran on Wednesday.
Pakistan and Iran have prior to now had rocky relations, however the strikes are the highest-profile cross-border intrusion lately.