The Security Assistant to the Governor of Sistan and Baluchistan province disclosed on Saturday details about the murder of nine Pakistanis near the southeastern border area of Iran by unidentified gunmen.

The official stated that "the border area of Saravan witnessed a horrific incident this morning, as three unidentified gunmen opened fire on a group of Pakistanis," resulting in "the death of 9 and the injury of 3 others."

At least 9 Pakistani labourers belonging to Panjab province have been shot dead by terrorists in BamPasht area of the Saravan, Sistan Balochistan province of Iran bordering Pakistan.#Iran #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/rvGJqiwd5f

— Syed Suleman Bukhari (@Syed_Suleman05) January 27, 2024

He further expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, noting that security and judicial authorities will address the matter with all due diligence and deal with the culprits accordingly once the investigations are completed. 

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani strongly condemned the crime and confirmed that the relevant authorities' investigations to uncover the circumstances of the incident are still ongoing. The spokesman stressed that Iran and Pakistan will not allow any party to target their diplomatic alliance.

On his part, Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani stated that it is a "regrettable incident and an attempt to harm the relations between Iran and Pakistan by their common enemies."

Jilani expressed his solidarity with the families of the victims, urging the Iranian government to take necessary measures against the perpetrators of the crime.

Read more: Iran denies claims about US 'alerts' before Kerman suicide attacks

The security of Pakistan is the security of Iran

Earlier today, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi declared that "the security of Pakistan is the security of Iran," and warned against terrorist activities backed by the United States that "threaten the security of all countries in the region."

Upon receiving the credentials of the Pakistani ambassador in Tehran, Raisi emphasized the necessity of "preserving the deep relations between Iran and Pakistan in the face of security challenges that threaten the borders of both countries."

In this context, the Iranian President called for enhancing security cooperation between the two countries to address terrorism-related issues and "counter any attempts to create tensions between these two brotherly nations."

The Iranian-Pakistani border briefly witnessed tensions after Iran targeted two bases of the terrorist organization Jaish ul-Adl in Pakistan with ballistic missiles.

The operation was carried out in response to "terrorist crimes recently committed by enemies of Iran," with likely reference to the terrorist operation in Kerman.

Pakistan reciprocated attacks near the Saravan area in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, in southeast Iran.

Cooperation and peace: crucial to ensure regional security

Despite these tensions, officials from both sides reaffirmed the strength of Iranian-Pakistani relations. The Pakistani embassy in Tehran declared that "Pakistan always stands by Iran, in all difficult circumstances," noting that mutual cooperation and trust between the two sides is crucial to address the various security issues that prevail across the region.

Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani likewise confirmed that "Iranian-Pakistani relations are strong and robust," adding that "enhancing security along the borders of the two countries is a shared goal for Iran and Pakistan."

Yesterday, the ambassadors of both countries resumed their diplomatic duties. It is expected that Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian will visit Pakistan in response to an invitation from his Pakistani counterpart, scheduled for January 29th.

Read more: Iran envoy to Islamabad, Pakistan envoy returns to Tehran