ALBAWABA - Separatist terrorists killed eight Pakistanis in the Sistan and Baluchestan province of southeast Iran, according to Pakistani police on Sunday. The event, which happened close to the border between Iran and Pakistan, has raised diplomatic concerns and prompted new calls for coordinated counterterrorism operations.
Abu Obaidah vows continued resistance and predicts inevitable victory against Israeli occupationThe victims came from the most populous area of Pakistan, Punjab province, according to the official news agency. Two factions claimed responsibility for the attack: Jaish al-Adl, a militant group based in Pakistan but active in Iranian territory, and the Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist party mainly active in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the Iranian authorities to swiftly capture and bring charges against the perpetrators, denouncing what he called the "brutal murder" of Pakistani citizens. To combat the growing cross-border militancy, he also advocated for increased bilateral collaboration.
Amid rising tensions between the neighbors over claims of insurgent sheltering, the Iranian embassy in Islamabad verified the death toll and reiterated the appeal for "joint efforts to counter terrorism."
With a sizable Sunni Baloch community, the unstable Sistan and Baluchestan province—which shares borders with both Afghanistan and Pakistan—has long been a hub for drug trafficking and insurgency. It has witnessed a rise in separatist violence and is one of Iran's poorest areas.
Similar cross-border attacks prompted Iran and Pakistan to launch retaliatory airstrikes in early 2024. Another tragic incident in the region in January claimed the lives of nine Pakistanis.
The most recent bloodshed highlights the precarious security situation along the Iran-Pakistan border as well as the ongoing threat posed by militant Baloch organizations who are vying for independence or autonomy.
