Iran claimed that it launched a missile attack apparently targeting alleged militant bases in Pakistan’s Balochistan province which killed two children, officials in Islamabad said.
The operation hit two sites in Balochistan linked to the militant group Jaish al-Adl, Iran’s state TV said.
The latest air strike comes at a time of growing tension across the Middle East, with war raging between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.
Tehran says it does not want to get involved in a wider conflict. But groups in its so-called “Axis of Resistance”, which include the Houthi militants in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and various groups in Syria and Iraq, have been carrying out attacks on Israel and its allies to show solidarity with the Palestinians.
Iranian media in December reported that the country’s interior minister reportedly issued a warning to Pakistan to stop the Jaish al-Adl group from launching attacks in Iran, after the death of 11 policemen in the southeastern city of Rask in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan.
In May 2023, six Iranian border guards were killed in clashes near the Pakistan border, resulting in Iran issuing a warning, asking Pakistan to “do more”. A month earlier, four Pakistani soldiers were also killed in cross-border firing in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
What did China say?
China on Wednesday urged Pakistan and Iran to show “restraint” and “avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension”. Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning added that Beijing saw the countries as “close neighbours”.
“We call on both sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension and work together to maintain peace and stability”.
“We consider both Iran and Pakistan as close neighbours and major Islamic countries,” she said.
