ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s foreign ministry on Saturday “strongly condemned” an armed attack by unidentified gunmen in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province near the Pakistani border that killed nine people, state media reported.
Three unidentified assailants opened fire on the places of residence of Pakistani nationals in Saravan city on Saturday, killing nine and critically injuring three. Local Iranian officials called it a “terrorist” attack and vowed to take decisive action against the perpetrators.
Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, strongly condemned the attack and said that Iran’s judicial and intelligence authorities have launched an investigation into the attack, while extending condolences to Pakistan and the families of the victims.
Pakistani authorities also condemned the shooting and stressed that Islamabad is in contact with Tehran 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.
No entity or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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.
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