NE Watch Desk
Pakistan has decided to recall its envoy
and expel the Iranian ambassador from its territory, following an air strike by
Iran on Balochistan Province. The move was accompanied by the suspension of all
high-level visits, announced Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra
Baloch.
The decision comes in response to an
Iranian air strike in Balochistan’s Panjgur region, which Iran asserts targeted
the Jaish al-Adl terror group, linked to attacks on its security forces along
the shared border.
Pakistan vehemently condemned the air
strike, labelling it an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace and deeming it “completely
unacceptable.” The incident, which resulted in the death of two children,
according to Pakistani authorities, has raised concerns of potential serious consequences,
with Pakistan reserving the right to respond.
Iran, however, has not officially
commented on the strike or the reported casualties.
The timing of the attack occurred
shortly after top leaders from both countries met in Davos during the World
Economic Forum.
The Jaish al-Adl, the purported target
of the Iranian strike, is a Sunni militant group formed in 2012, primarily
operating in southeast Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan region. The group’s activities
pose a significant concern for Bharat, as the region is home to the Chabahar
Port, a strategic project jointly developed by Bharat and Iran.
The impact of these events on Bharat is
indirect but noteworthy, given its involvement in the Chabahar Port project.
