Pakistan: Iran’s strike sparked a diplomatic crisis between Tehran and its nuclear-armed neighbor at a time of escalating regional tensions.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the strike inside its territory was a “illegal and unacceptable act” after Iran used drones and missiles to target two Jaish al-Adl militant bases in Balochistan province, sparking a diplomatic crisis between Tehran and its nuclear-armed neighbor at a time of rising regional conflict. Amid tensions created by the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas, Pakistan became the second neighbor of Iran to report an attack on its territory in a single day. Pakistan’s foreign ministry stated that the country has the right to respond. Iraq had earlier denounced a lethal missile assault carried out by Iran in retribution for the death of an Iranian commander in Syria, which targeted an Israeli spy camp in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Additionally, Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from Iran and prevented the envoy from Tehran from coming back to Islamabad. The foreign ministry stated that Iran’s unprovoked breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty last night constitutes a violation of international law and the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter.
How did Iran respond to the strikes?
Iran said that the militant organization Jaish al-Adl, which has expanded over Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan and aspires to an independent Balochistan, was targeting bases with its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Six drones and rockets carrying bombs targeted houses where the gang claimed to have their family.
We urge the two sides to exercise restraint, avoid any actions that escalate the tensions, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region, China said in response to the escalation of hostilities.
Ratnavali