Unidentified assailants kill nine Pakistanis in southeast Iran
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least nine Pakistani nationals were killed by unidentified armed men in southeast Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, days after the two countries agreed to de-escalate tensions following an exchange of deadly cross-border strikes.
Alireza Marhamati, deputy governor of the province, said that the victims were shot in their place of residence in Saravan city by three unidentified armed men. Three others were also wounded in the attack.
Marhamati condemned the “terrorist act,” vowing that relevant authorities will identify the perpetrators and deal with them decisively.
“Deeply shocked by horrifying killing of 9 Pakistanis in Saravan. Embassy will extend full support to bereaved families,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu said on X, urging Iran to fully cooperate on the matter. He added that all three injured were in stable condition.
The Pakistani foreign ministry also condemned the shooting and stressed that Islamabad is in contact with Iranian authorities and has highlighted the need to immediately investigate the attack and hold the perpetrators accountable.
“It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally… We are fully seized of this grave matter and are taking all necessary measures in this regard. The embassy will do its best to repatriate dead bodies at the earliest,” read a statement attributed to spokesperson of Pakistan’s foreign ministry Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
Relations between Iran and Pakistan were strained after January 16 when Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired drones and missiles into Pakistani territory, targeting Jaish al-Adl (Justice Army), a Baluchi Sunni militant group operating across the sparsely-populated border regions.
Pakistan carried out strikes into Iran two days later, saying it targeted “terrorist hideouts” in Sistan and Baluchestan province. At least nine people were killed in Pakistan’s attack.
On Monday, Tehran and Islamabad agreed to de-escalate and resume diplomatic relations.
Sistan and Baluchestan province, near the Pakistani border, is one of the only Sunni-majority provinces in the Shiite-dominated Iran. There are a number of Baluchi armed groups active in the area that carry out regular bombings and suicide attacks.
Alireza Marhamati, deputy governor of the province, said that the victims were shot in their place of residence in Saravan city by three unidentified armed men. Three others were also wounded in the attack.
Marhamati condemned the “terrorist act,” vowing that relevant authorities will identify the perpetrators and deal with them decisively.
“Deeply shocked by horrifying killing of 9 Pakistanis in Saravan. Embassy will extend full support to bereaved families,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu said on X, urging Iran to fully cooperate on the matter. He added that all three injured were in stable condition.
The Pakistani foreign ministry also condemned the shooting and stressed that Islamabad is in contact with Iranian authorities and has highlighted the need to immediately investigate the attack and hold the perpetrators accountable.
“It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally… We are fully seized of this grave matter and are taking all necessary measures in this regard. The embassy will do its best to repatriate dead bodies at the earliest,” read a statement attributed to spokesperson of Pakistan’s foreign ministry Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
Relations between Iran and Pakistan were strained after January 16 when Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired drones and missiles into Pakistani territory, targeting Jaish al-Adl (Justice Army), a Baluchi Sunni militant group operating across the sparsely-populated border regions.
Pakistan carried out strikes into Iran two days later, saying it targeted “terrorist hideouts” in Sistan and Baluchestan province. At least nine people were killed in Pakistan’s attack.
On Monday, Tehran and Islamabad agreed to de-escalate and resume diplomatic relations.
Sistan and Baluchestan province, near the Pakistani border, is one of the only Sunni-majority provinces in the Shiite-dominated Iran. There are a number of Baluchi armed groups active in the area that carry out regular bombings and suicide attacks.