Islamabad (diplomat.so) - In a startling turn of events, Pakistan's recent incursions into Iranian territory have intensified the already heightened tensions between the two nations. The raids, which took place on Thursday, came in retaliation for Iranian strikes on Pakistani soil just two days prior, prompting an emergency response.
In a revealing phone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani, it was disclosed that the Iranian government had no prior knowledge of the Revolutionary Guard's actions. Abdollahian expressed surprise, stating that neither he nor the government were informed of the strikes, as reported by the "Iran International" website. He emphasized that the Revolutionary Guard had acted independently.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, in response, assured his counterpart of Pakistan's willingness to collaborate on all issues based on mutual trust and cooperation. Islamabad expressed readiness to engage with Tehran to address the unfolding crisis.
Unverified sources within Iranian security circles suggested that the missile attack on Pakistan aimed at securing internal Iranian stability. These revelations emerged amid growing tensions between the two nations, which had engaged in reciprocal military strikes.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani strongly condemned Pakistan's actions, demanding an explanation for the strikes on Thursday. Islamabad, in turn, issued a warning of further consequences if Iran continued its aggressive stance, with senior Pakistani security officials affirming the military's readiness to respond to any provocations.
The conflict escalated when Pakistan announced coordinated military strikes on "terrorist sites" in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, claiming the operations were based on intelligence information and resulted in the elimination of several terrorists. This retaliation occurred following Tehran's bombing of Pakistani territory, targeting the "Army of Justice" group, labeled as a terrorist organization.
Accusations between Tehran and Islamabad regarding the harboring of militant groups by each other have been commonplace, but direct military interventions were rare until this recent exchange, raising international concerns about the deepening crisis in the region.
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