Iran says it targeted 'Iranian terrorist group' in Pakistan

Tehran's top diplomat said on Wednesday that his country's armed forces targeted an "Iranian terrorist group" in Pakistan the day before, after Islamabad said the strike killed two children.

"None of the nationals of the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones," Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, which is an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted," he added.

The raid came late on Tuesday after Tehran also launched attacks in Iraq and Syria against what it called "anti-Iranian terrorist groups".

Read more: Pakistan to recall ambassador from Iran after airspace violation: FO

Pakistan denounced the strike near the nations' shared border, recalled its ambassador from Iran and blocked Tehran's envoy from returning to Islamabad.

"This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has not justification whatsoever. Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran," said FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in a brief statement.

The spokesperson also added that Islamabad would suspend all high-level diplomatic exchanges with Tehran following the violation of the country's sovereignty and added that the Iranian envoy to Pakistan, who is currently visiting Iran, will not be allowed back in the country.

“We have conveyed this message to the government of Iran. We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, who is currently visiting Iran, may not return for the time being."

However, Tuesday’s strike came as major surprise because Tehran opted for this option despite existence of channels of communication between the two countries.

A few hours before the strike, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar met Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the Davos Forum.

Amir-Abdollahian said Iran's attack on "Pakistan's soil" was a response to the Jaish al-Adl group's recent deadly attacks on the Islamic republic, particularly on the city of Rask in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan.

Read: China urges Iran, Pakistan to 'exercise restraint' after deadly air strike

An attack on January 10 on a police station in the city killed a policeman, almost a month after 11 police officers were killed in a similar attack in the area. Both attacks were claimed by Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice).

"The group has taken shelter in some parts of Pakistan's Balochistan province," Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that "we've talked with Pakistani officials several times on this matter".

The foreign minister said Iran respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan but would not "allow the country's national security to be compromised or played with".