Rude awakening for Iran

Pakistan on Thursday carried out a series of “highly coordinated” and “specifically targeted, precision” strikes against hideouts inside Iran used by the terrorists, who were responsible for the recent attacks in the country, the military’s media wing said.

However, both sides appeared to signal a desire to keep the situation contained, with the Foreign Office emphasising dialogue and cooperation to confront common challenges.

“This morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Sistan-Baluchistan province of Iran. A number of terrorists were killed during the intelligence based operation,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement.

The operation codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’ inside the neighbouring country came two days after Tehran said it struck the bases of another group within the Pakistani territory.

The tit-for-tat strikes are the highest-profile cross-border intrusions in recent years and have raised alarm over wider instability in the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7.

The ISPR said the precision strikes were carried out using killer drones, rockets, loitering munitions and stand-off weapons whereas maximum care was taken to avoid collateral damage.

The hideouts used by terrorist organisations, namely the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front, were successfully struck in an IBO.

The targeted hideouts were being used by notorious terrorists, including Dosta alias Chairman, Bajjar alias Soghat, Sahil alias Shafaq, Asghar alias Basham and Wazir alias Wazi, among others, the ISPR added.

The spokesperson said that over the last several years in bilateral engagements with Iran, Pakistan had consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani-origin terrorists calling themselves Sarmachars on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran.

Pakistan also shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists, she added.

"However, because of a lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning's action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities by these so-called Sarmachars," the spokesperson remarked.

She said the action was a manifestation of Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats.

Spokesperson Mumtaz said that the successful execution of the said “highly complex operation” was also a testimony to the professionalism of the armed forces.

“Pakistan will continue to take all necessary steps to preserve the safety and security of its people which is sacrosanct, inviolable, and sacred.”

She reiterated that Pakistan fully respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. “The sole objective of today's act is in pursuit of Pakistan's own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised,” she added.

She said that as a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan upheld the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states.

The spokesperson said that guided by the said principles and in exercise of the legitimate rights within international law, Pakistan would never allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be challenged under any pretext or circumstance.

"Iran is a brotherly country and the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people. We have always emphasised dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges, including the menace of terrorism, and will continue to endeavour to find joint solutions," the spokesperson added.

The ISPR also echoed similar gestures by saying that going forward, dialogue and cooperation were deemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues between the two neighbouring brotherly countries.

It said the armed forces remained in a perpetual state of readiness to ensure safety of Pakistan citizens against acts of terrorism.

"Our resolve to ensure that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan is respected and safeguarded against any misadventure, remains unwavering. We reaffirm our determination to defeat all enemies of Pakistan with the support of the people of Pakistan," the ISPR said.

Meanwhile, Tehran strongly condemned the strikes, saying civilians were killed, and summoned Pakistan's charge d'affaires, its most senior diplomat in Iran, to provide an explanation.

"The information received indicates that four children, three women and two men, who were foreign nationals, have been killed in the explosion that occurred in a village," Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state TV. (With input from agencies)