Pakistan’s air force launched retaliatory airstrikes on Iran early Thursday, targeting alleged militant positions in Sistan and Baluchestan province. The strikes, described as “highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes” by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, resulted in at least seven casualties, including three women and four children.
The aerial offensive comes in the wake of Iran’s attack on Pakistani soil on Tuesday, which claimed the lives of two children in Baluchistan province. The incidents have strained diplomatic relations between the two neighboring nations, both of which have a history of suspicion over militant activities.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry justified its actions, citing “credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities.” The ministry emphasized that the strikes were a manifestation of Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding its national security against all threats.
The targeted militant group, Jaish al-Adl, is a Sunni separatist organization with aspirations for an independent Baluchistan that spans ethnic Baluch areas in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. Both Sistan and Baluchestan province in Iran and Baluchistan province in Pakistan have experienced a low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists for over two decades.
Iran’s Deputy Governor of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Ali Reza Marhamati, confirmed the casualties and acknowledged a separate blast near Saravan. Meanwhile, images shared online by the Baluch advocacy group, HalVash, depicted the aftermath of the attack, showing destroyed homes and remnants of munitions.
The situation adds to the volatility in the Middle East, already unsettled by regional conflicts, including Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Iraq has also recalled its ambassador from Iran for consultations following Iranian airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in response to an Islamic State-claimed suicide bombing.
As the international community pays close attention to these developments, concerns mount over the potential escalation of violence and the impact on regional stability.