Pakistan’s forces bombed Iran overnight in an apparent retaliation for an Iranian strike in Pakistan on Tuesday, a show of force that could put pressure on China’s ability to manage relations between its partners.
“This action is a manifestation of Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a Thursday statement. “Pakistan will continue to take all necessary steps to preserve the safety and security of its people which is sacrosanct, inviolable and sacred.”
The Pakistani sortie “killed ten people, and [razed] down four houses,” according to Iranian regime-aligned media, including four children. Iran’s strike in Pakistan left two children dead, according to the Pakistani side, with each government claiming to have targeted terrorist organizations that the other has tolerated.
“Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said. “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 Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Pakistan’s top diplomat in Tehran would be summoned to the diplomatic headquarters to “offer explanations” for the strikes. The exchange of blows drew a word of warning from Beijing, where Chinese officials underscored their desire to contain the controversy.
“China sincerely hopes that the two sides will remain calm and restraint and avoid escalation of the tension,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters. “If there is need from the two sides, we would like to play a constructive role in cooling down the situation.”
An unnamed Pakistani official, in a potential sign of their interest in capping the escalation, told Voice of America that they did not violate Iranian airspace. The Pakistani military emphasized their use of “stand-off weapons” and claimed they tried to avoid civilian casualties.
“The precision strikes were carried out using killer drones, rockets, loitering munitions, and stand-off weapons. Maximum care was taken to avoid collateral damage,” the Pakistani military’s interservices public relations said. “Our resolve to ensure that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan is respected and safeguarded against any misadventure, remains unwavering. … Going forward, dialogue and cooperation is deemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues between the two neighboring brotherly countries.”
Iran’s bombardment of targets in Pakistan developed a pattern of Iranian strikes in three different countries this week, which Tehran justified as a series of counterterrorism operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian claimed that they conducted the strike only after having “several” conversations with Pakistani officials about a putative Iranian terrorist outfit using Pakistan as its headquarters.
“We only targeted Iranian terrorists on the soil of Pakistan,” the Iranian foreign minister said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum.
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Pakistani officials offered a similar account of Iran’s putative tolerance of anti-Pakistan terrorists.
“Over the last several years, in our engagements with Iran, Pakistan has consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani origin terrorists calling themselves ‘Sarmachars’ on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said. “However, because of lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning’s action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities by these so-called Sarmachars.”
