In the past 48 hours, Pakistan-Iran relations have been marred by unexpected events. Iran breached Pakistan’s airspace by firing a missile into Pakistani territory, purportedly targeting an Iranian Baloch militant group, JuA. However, the grim reality unfolded as the missile struck a civilian house, resulting in casualties, including four innocent children. JuA, in a statement, claimed the missile missed their hideouts, landing in Pakistani territory. In response, Pakistan diplomatically condemned the violation, holding Iran accountable for the repercussions.
In the early hours of January 18, 2024, Pakistan executed precise strikes against terrorist hideouts inside Iran, believed to be responsible for recent attacks in Pakistan. The surgical strikes utilised killer drones, rockets, loitering munitions, and stand-off weapons with meticulous care to minimize collateral damage.
Under the operation codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar,’ intelligence-based strikes successfully targeted hideouts used by terrorist organizations, namely the Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front. Notorious terrorists, including Dosta alias Chairman, Bajjar alias Soghat, Sahil alias Shafaq, Asghar alias Basham, and Wazir alias Wazi, were among those located in the targeted hideouts.
The Pakistan Armed Forces maintain a constant state of readiness to protect Pakistani citizens from acts of terrorism. The commitment to ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan against any misadventure remains steadfast. Pakistan reaffirms its determination to defeat all enemies with the unwavering support of its people.
Looking ahead, Pakistan advocates for dialogue and cooperation to address bilateral issues with its neighbouring brotherly country. In a recent development, Pakistan targeted the hideouts of the BLF and BLA in Iran, achieving precise hits without causing civilian damage. Emphasising a collective and multilateral response to regional threats, Pakistan calls for strengthened counterterrorism efforts from neighbouring countries, including Iran, to eradicate the menace of terrorism in the region.
Despite the ongoing tense situation between Pakistan and Iran, ultra-nationalists and radical Baloch nationalists are attempting to manipulate the current circumstances. The propagandists chose to remain silent when Iran violated Pakistan’s airspace and conducted a missile strike. However, they were quick to react when Pakistan retaliated by attacking the hideouts of the BLA and BLF terrorists. The ultra-nationalists are trying to connect this with Baloch identity, despite the fact that terrorists worldwide cannot be linked to any ethnicity or religion. The apologists of Baloch militant groups are constructing a misleading narrative from the clash between Iran and Pakistan, which is concerning. Fortunately, the rational masses of Balochistan seem less inclined to buy into this deceptive propaganda.
Lastly, Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interests, which are paramount and cannot be compromised.
As a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan upholds the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including the territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states. Guided by these principles and in exercise of our legitimate rights within international law, Pakistan will never allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be challenged under any pretext or circumstances.
