Several hours after Pakistan carried out retaliatory missile strikes at seven locations inside Iran, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday evening, condemning “Pakistan’s unbalanced and unacceptable drone attack on non-Iranian villagers on the border of the two countries”.
The statement is available on the ministry’s website and reads: “In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
“The Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the recent incidents on the Pakistan border
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns Pakistan’s unbalanced and unacceptable drone attack on non-Iranian villagers on the border of the two countries.
“At the same time, the Islamic Republic of Iran adheres to the policy of good neighborliness and brotherhood between the two nations and the two governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan. It does not allow enemies to strain the amicable and brotherly relations of Tehran and Islamabad.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the security of its people and its territorial integrity as a red line and strongly expects the friendly and brotherly government of Pakistan to adhere to its obligations in preventing the establishment of bases and the deployment of armed terrorist groups on its soil.
“On Tuesday, 16 January 2024, the Border Taskforce of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force, situated in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, took a preventive action against a terrorist group preparing to infiltrate the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran to carry out another terrorist operation similar to the criminal and terrorist attack in Rask. The action was carried out against the terrorist group’s barracks and headquarters located in the heights of the region, kilometers away from residential areas––a procedure which is part of the inherent duties of the border forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran to “proportionately deal” with any “imminent terrorist threat” against the people and citizens of the country.
“It is emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran differentiates between Pakistan’s friendly and brotherly government and armed terrorists. The Islamic Republic of Iran always adheres to its policy of good neighborliness and does not allow its enemies and terrorist allies to strain these relations, especially when the genocide and crimes of the Zionist regime are the foremost issue affecting the Islamic world.”
In retaliation to Iran’s Jan 16 missile and drone strikes inside Pakistan’s Blochistan province, Pakistan carried out missile and drone strikes at seven locations inside Iran early in the morning on Jan 18. Both sides claimed killing terrorists in these strikes that were operating from their camps along the Pakistan-Iran border.
