Despite recent rapprochements, the situation is escalating: Islamabad is striking back after Iranian missile attacks on extremists. Nine people, including four children, are said to have died.
After an Iranian missile attack on extremists on its territory, Pakistan has in turn attacked targets in Iran with missiles.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced that the early morning attacks in Sistan and Balochistan province were aimed at extremists, as was the case in the previous Iranian military strike.
According to the Iranian news agency Irna, a total of nine people, including four children, were killed.
Ambassador summoned
As the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported, the charge d’affaires of the Pakistani embassy was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to explain the incident.
On Tuesday evening, Iran attacked targets of the extremist Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan. According to Pakistani information, two children were killed. On Tuesday night, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) also attacked targets in neighboring Iraq and Syria with ballistic missiles.
The nuclear power Pakistan sharply criticized the Iranian attacks on its territory and therefore withdrew its ambassador from Tehran on Wednesday.
China offers mediation to Iran and Pakistan
After the mutual missile attacks, China offered itself as a mediator. “Iran and Pakistan are China’s close neighbors, friendly countries and countries with great influence, and China sincerely hopes that both sides can maintain calm and exercise restraint,” a Beijing Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said. “If there is a need on both sides, we are also ready to play a constructive role in easing the situation.”
The upset followed recent positive developments in relations between the two countries. Just on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian and Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The neighboring countries also held a joint naval exercise.
Source: Stern
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