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Iran condemns Pakistani attack, demands answers

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
18 Jan 2024 13:55

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson condemns the Pakistani attack on Iran requesting an explanation from the Pakistani government.

In this photo released on Aug. 11, 2022, by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani speaks in Tehran, Iran. (AP)

Iran condemned the attack carried out by Pakistan on the country's Sistan and Baluchestan Province earlier today, Nasser Kanaani, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, revealed.

The chargé d'affaires of the embassy of Pakistan in Tehran was summoned by the Ministry to officially notify the protest and request an explanation from the Pakistani government, according to the senior Iranian diplomat.

"At 4:50 a.m., Thursday, several explosions were heard in the area of Saravan city, and after the investigations, we found out that Pakistan had targeted one of Iran's border villages with a missile," a security source told Mehr News Agency.

What happened in Iran?

The Pakistani military carried out overnight strikes in Iran, an intelligence official said earlier today, shortly after Tehran attacked positions of the Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group in Pakistan.

"I can only confirm that we have conducted strikes against anti-Pakistan militant groups that were targeted inside Iran," a senior intelligence source not authorized to give information to the media told AFP.

Later, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced that the Pakistani military carried out military strikes against what it called "terrorist hideouts" in Iran.

In a statement, Islamabad said it respects Tehran's sovereignty, adding that the "sole objective of today's act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest."

Iranian state media reported that three women and four children were killed in the attacks in the country's southeast.

"Pakistan attacked an Iranian border village with missiles," state television said, adding that "three women, four children were killed, all non-Iranian nationals."

Earlier, Alireza Marhamati, the deputy governor of the province for security and law enforcement, reported that sounds of explosions were heard in several areas of Saravan County in the Iranian southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan Province bordering Pakistan.