Iran wants 'immediate explanation' from Pakistan over attacks
The Pakistani military carried out targeted strikes against militant hideouts in Iran after Tehran launched similar attacks the day before, in an escalation of tensions.
Iran has "strongly condemned" the attack and called on Pakistan to provide an "immediate explanation" over the attacks, reports Iranian state TV quoting an unnamed source.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, emphasised that to officially convey the protest and request an explanation from the Pakistani government, the diplomatic representative of this country in Tehran was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to reports, the diplomat was summoned to the ministry on Thursday in the absence of the Pakistani ambassador to Tehran for an explanation regarding several explosions in different areas around the city of Saravan in Sistan and Balouchestan province, close to the border with Pakistan earlier in the day
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Deputy governor of the province Alireza Marhamati said seven non-Iranian nationals, including three women and four children, were killed in the attack.
He added that Iranian security officials are investigating the issue.
The Pakistani military carried out targeted strikes against militant hideouts in Iran after Tehran launched similar attacks the day before, in an escalation of tensions.
The nuclear-armed nation carried out the morning strikes against "terrorist hideouts" in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. A number of militants were killed, it added.
"This action is a manifestation of Pakistan's unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats," the ministry said in a statement.
The tit-for-tat response is the most significant escalation between the two neighbors who've had testy relations in the past. The strikes come at a time of rising turmoil in the Middle East over the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas, which has been raging for more than 100 days.
