Eight Pakistani nationals were killed in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, near the shared border with Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the Pakistani government on Sunday. The identities of the victims have not yet been confirmed.
The killings occurred in Mehrestan County, a restive part of Iran known for cross-border militant activity. In response, the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran and its Consulate in Zahidan are coordinating with Iranian authorities to investigate the incident and ensure the repatriation of the victims’ remains.
The statement noted that the embassy and consulate are actively engaged with local officials, adding that further information regarding the identities of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding their deaths will be released as it becomes available.
The region where the incident took place has long been a hotspot of insurgent activity. Sistan-Baluchistan province in Iran and Balochistan province in Pakistan are both mineral-rich but underdeveloped, and they have served as operational grounds for militant groups. Notably, the Jaish al Adl (JAA), an Iran-based Sunni extremist group, and Pakistan-based separatist organisations such as the Baloch Liberation Front and the Baloch Liberation Army are active in the area.
Tensions between Iran and Pakistan escalated in early 2024 when both nations carried out cross-border airstrikes, targeting what they claimed were militant bases. The tit-for-tat attacks marked one of the most high-profile confrontations between the two neighbours in recent years.
As authorities continue their investigation, the incident threatens to further complicate an already delicate relationship between the two countries, which have struggled to balance counterterrorism efforts with diplomatic cooperation along their volatile border.
Melissa Enoch
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