Iran condemns attack on Pakistanis, pledges to protect 'brotherly relations'

Nine Pakistanis were slain in an armed attack in Iran’s Saravan city, which came a day after Islamabad referred to it as a “heinous crime” and urged Tehran to prosecute those responsible. This occurs weeks after airstrikes on each other’s territory, which Iran and Pakistan said were in retaliation for terrorist attacks. In a statement released on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated that he “strongly condemned” the attack that happened in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan, which is near Iran’s border with Pakistan. Saravan was the scene of an attack on Saturday by unidentified attackers. Mehr News Agency, a semi-official news agency in Iran, said that no organization or person has yet taken credit for it. “Kanaani extended his sympathies to the Pakistani government and the families of the victims. The Foreign Ministry spokesman further noted that the responsible bodies have launched an investigation into the attack, adding that Iran and Pakistan will not let the enemies damage brotherly relations between the two nations,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Relations between the two nations deteriorated earlier this month after Iran launched missile and drone strikes on Pakistan’s Balochistan province, claiming the raids were intended to target a terror stronghold used by the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl. According to Pakistani officials, civilians were killed in the strike, and the government issued a warning about possible reprisal. Additionally, Islamabad called back its Iranian ambassador. Two days later, Pakistan launched military operations against what it claimed to be separatist strongholds in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan in Iran. The attack that happened on Saturday happened in this same province.