Iran strikes terror group bases in Pakistan, Islamabad condemns airspace violation

TEHRAN, ISLAMABAD: Iran has attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposed to Tehran with drones and missiles in Pakistan, Al Arabiya News reported citing Tasnim news agency.

Two ‘important headquarters’ of Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) in Pakistan were “destroyed,” Al Arabiya News reported citing Tasnim News Agency. The strikes were concentrated in an area in Pakistan’s Balochistan where ‘one of the largest headquarters’ of Jaish al-Adl was located, the report said.

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IRGC struck terrorist Headquarters inside Pakistan

Jaish Ul Adl headquarters were hit and destroyed by ballistic missiles and drones pic.twitter.com/WeKnZlLGeS

— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) January 16, 2024

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated as a ‘terrorist organization’ by Iran, is a Sunni terrorist group that operates in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, Al Arabiya News reported. Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces.

In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Baluchistan that claimed the lives of at least 11 police personnel, according to Al Arabiya News reported.

Sistan-Baluchistan borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. The region has a history of clashes between Iran’s security forces and Sunni terrorists, as well as drug smugglers. Sistan-Baluchistan is one of Iran’s poorest regions and most of the population in the region is Sunni ethnic Baluchis, Al Arabiya News reported.

The attacks in Pakistan have been carried out a day after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles into Iraq’s Kurdistan region at what it called an Israeli “spy headquarters” and at alleged ISIS-linked targets in Syria, the report said.

Pakistan ‘strongly condemns’ violation of its airspace by Iran

Following Iran’s strikes on the terrorist group in Balochistan, Pakistan has strongly condemned the “unprovoked violation” of its airspace by Iran, which claimed the lives of two children and injured three girls, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

It said that the violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is “completely unacceptable” and warned of serious consequences. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Iran has taken this action despite the existence of several channels of communication between the two nations.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which resulted in the death of two innocent children while injuring three girls. This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences”.

“It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran”, it added. According to the statement, Pakistan has lodged strong protests with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Pakistan’s strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran”. “Additionally, the Iranian Charge d’affaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran”, it added.

Pakistan also said, “Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations which can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence”. (ANI)