Tension Soars Between Iran And Pakistan Amid Military Strikes Targeting Militants

ISLAMABAD / TEHRAN — At least nine people have been killed by Pakistan’s missile strikes inside Iran's borders after Tehran's attack on Pakistani soil killed two children on Tuesday.  

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said that the purpose of its attack on Iran was "in pursuit of Pakistan's own security and national interest”. The Pakistani army said that they were targeting "terrorist organizations", namely the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province. 

On Tuesday, Iran struck targets inside Pakistan's Balochistan province, saying it was targeting the Jaish al-Adl group, an ethnic Baloch Sunni Muslim group that has carried out attacks inside Iran. Pakistan had fiercely condemned Iran's strike. Islamabad has also recalled its ambassador to Iran on Wednesday and has expelled the Iranian ambassador.

"Going forward, dialogue and cooperation is deemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues between the two neighbouring brotherly countries," a statement by the Pakistani army said. Both Pakistan and Iran have long fought militants along their 900-kilometre (560-mile) border but it is highly unusual for either side to attack militants on each other’s soil without warning, reported CNN. 

In the last few days, Iran has launched similar strikes in Iraq and Syria, claiming to be targeting a spy base for Israeli forces and “anti-Iran terror groups.” Meanwhile, heavy fighting continues between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah at the Lebanon border; and between the US and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who attacked ships in the Red Sea to protest Israel’s assault on Gaza.