ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Sherry Rehman Thursday termed Pakistan’s response to Tehran’s “unprovoked” attack a “thoughtful response”, as the country’s army launches strikes on terrorist hideouts operating in the Iranian territories.
the senior politicians said Iran’s attack on Pakistani sovereignty was unexpected.
After Iran launched a surprise attack in Balochistan claiming to target a militant outfit late Tuesday night, Pakistan’s military targeted terrorist hideouts inside the Iranian border today.
Iran’s attack, which the Foreign Office termed “unprovoked and “unacceptable”, left two children dead and injured three girls, stating that it violated the country’s sovereignty.
Pakistan’s retaliation, however, killed a number of terrorists during the intelligence-based operation — codenamed “Marg Bar Sarmachar”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement today.
“This morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran,” the FO mentioned.
“If Iran had any concerns, it should have informed Pakistan,” Senator Rehman insisted, highlighting the need for restraint by both countries.
She maintained that Pakistan has old ties with Iran and there is a need to improve relations. However, she also acknowledged that such skirmishes along the Pakistan-Iran border have been taking place for many years.
“It would be better if the two countries do not allow this kind of conflict to escalate further,” she added.
‘Fitting diplomatic and military steps’
Former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif asserted that Pakistan’s reaction was to ensure its territorial integrity and keeping the well-being of the citizens “paramount”.
Taking to X — formerly Twitter — the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president wrote: “Pakistan has taken fitting diplomatic and military steps for peace and security. We seek peace between our two neighbourly countries but reserve the right to defend ourselves.”
