News of War Staff Writer
Pakistan Launches Cross-Border Strikes in Iran Targeting Separatist Militants
Pakistan executed military strikes within Iranian territory on Thursday, aiming at separatist Baloch militants, announced the Pakistani foreign ministry. This action follows Iran's claims of targeting bases of a different group inside Pakistani territory two days prior.
Iranian media reported that several missiles struck a village in the Sistan-Baluchestan province bordering Pakistan, resulting in at least nine fatalities. Initial reports indicated that the casualties included three women and four children, all of whom were not Iranian nationals.
Relations between the neighbouring countries have historically been strained. However, these strikes represent a significant escalation in cross-border tensions, occurring amidst heightened concerns about Middle East instability following the Israel-Hamas conflict that commenced on October 7.
"Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran," stated Pakistan's foreign ministry, highlighting the strikes as "a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts." The ministry emphasised that the operation aimed to neutralise a number of terrorists, prioritising Pakistan's security and national interests.
A senior Pakistani security official informed Reuters that the military was on heightened alert, prepared to respond robustly to any potential Iranian retaliation.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, condemned the strikes. In response, Pakistan's charge d'affaires in Tehran was summoned for an explanation.
In Islamabad, a foreign ministry spokesperson revealed that Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-haq Kakar would curtail his participation at the World Economic Forum in Davos to return home.
Following the strikes, there was a notable impact on Pakistan's financial markets. The Karachi stock index dropped by approximately 0.85%, and the 2026 bond fell 1.2 cents, trading at 71.125 cents in the dollar as of 0750 GMT, according to Tradeweb data.
A Pakistani intelligence source confirmed to Reuters that the strikes were conducted using military aircraft. The operations inside Iran targeted militants belonging to the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), a group seeking independence for Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Iran had previously claimed to have struck Israel-linked militant bases in Pakistan. Both the targeted groups share Baloch ethnicity, but it remains unclear if they cooperate.
Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation, reported civilian casualties, including two children, from Iran's attack and warned of repercussions for which Tehran would be accountable.
In a strong diplomatic move, Islamabad recalled its ambassador from Iran on Wednesday, protesting what it termed a "blatant breach" of its sovereignty.
This latest development in the region follows Iran's recent military actions in Syria and Iraq, targeting Islamic State sites and an alleged Israeli espionage centre, respectively. Baghdad subsequently withdrew its ambassador from Tehran.
While there seemed to be a thaw in relations with a recent meeting between Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Pakistan's Kakar at Davos, the Iranian strikes on Pakistan have significantly altered the dynamics.
Despite Pakistan's intention to keep the situation under control, analysts express concern over potential escalation. Asfandyr Mir, a South Asia security expert at the U.S. Institute of Peace, highlighted the unpredictability of the situation, noting that Pakistan's strike within Iranian territory is a significant threshold crossing.
Pakistan's former Defence Minister Khwaja Asif acknowledged the retaliatory nature of the action and emphasised the importance of avoiding further escalation.
The targeted militant groups operate in regions encompassing Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province and Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, both characterised by unrest, rich mineral resources, and underdevelopment.
The BLF, targeted by Islamabad in Iran, is engaged in an armed insurgency against the Pakistani state, including attacks on Chinese interests in Balochistan. The Jaish al Adl (JAA), targeted by Iran, is a Sunni Islamist group perceived as a threat by predominantly Shi'ite Iran and has previously attacked Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. JAA, formerly known as Jundallah, had declared allegiance to the Islamic State operating in Iraq and Syria.