Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan on Thursday morning struck terrorist hideouts in Iran’s Siestan-o-Baluchistan province, a day after Iran violated the country’s sovereignty.
“This morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. A number of terrorists were killed during the Intelligence-based operation – codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’,” confirmed Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) in a statement.
FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in her statement said that over the last several years, Pakistan in its engagements with Iran consistently shared serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani origin terrorists calling themselves Sarmachars on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran.
She said Pakistan also shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists.
The FO spokesperson said because of lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity.
She said this morning’s action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large scale terrorist activities by these so called Sarmachars.
Balcohh said that this action is a manifestation of Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats.
“The successful execution of this highly complex operation is also a testimony to the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces,” she said, adding that Pakistan will continue to take all necessary steps to preserve the safety and security of its people which is sacrosanct, inviolable and sacred.
“Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised,” the FO spokesperson said.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said as a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan upholds the principles and purposes of the United Nations (UN) Charter including territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states.
“Guided by these principles, and in exercise of our legitimate rights within international law, Pakistan will never allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be challenged, under any pretext or circumstances,” the statement added.
“Iran is a brotherly country and the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people,” the FO spokesperson said, adding that Pakistan has always emphasized dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism and will continue to endevaour to find joint solutions.
On Wednesday, Pakistan recalled its ambassador from Iran and suspend all high-level visits following the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran on Tuesday night.
FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in a press briefing, said that Pakistan had also conveyed that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who was currently visiting Iran might not return for the time being.
“We have conveyed this message to the Iranian Government. 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,” the spokesperson remarked.
The development came after Tehran targeted the bases of, what it claimed was a terrorist organisation, inside Pakistani territory, "Green Mountain" with drones and missiles, and destroyed the headquarters of the said terrorist group, reported Iranian state media.
“Missiles targeted two bases of Jaish al Adl in Pakistan on Tuesday”, Iranian state media reported, a day after Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards missile strikes hit an “Israeli spy centre” in Iraq and targeted Islamic State militants in Syria.
“These bases were hit and destroyed by missiles and drones,” media reports in Tehran said. Iran’s Nournews, affiliated with the country's top security body, said the attacked bases were located in the Balochistan province.