Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian justified the air strikes launched by Iran on Pakistan’s Balochistan and said the attack on Jaish ul-Adl targets enforced the security in its neighbouring country. He also referred to Pakistan as a “brotherly country” and said the drones and missiles did not target any Pakistani nationals.
This came even as Pakistan claimed that two children were killed and three others were injured in the attack on two bases of the militant group Jaish ul-Adl in Balochistan.
Amir-Abdollahian added that he talked to his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani over the attacks and assured him that, “We do respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan and also those of Iraq, but we don’t allow our national security to be compromised.”
Pakistan had called the attack an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace and recalled its envoy to Iran. Further, the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who is currently in Iran was also asked not to return for the time being.
Amir-Abdollahian said the missiles and drones were targeting “Iranian terrorists” on Pakistani soil.
“There is a Daesh group, the so-called Jaish ul-Adl, which is an Iranian terrorist group. And they are somehow there, they have taken shelter in some parts of the Sistan-Balochistan province of Pakistan,” said Amir-Abdollahian.
He alleged that the militant group killed Iranian security personnel and the attack was a response to it.
“We have no reservations, no hesitations when it comes to the national interest. This includes addressing terrorist groups inside Pakistan and those affiliated with the Israeli regime. What we did was actually in line with the security interests of Pakistan, Iraq, and our region,” he added.