Topline
Pakistan carried out retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian soil early on Thursday—claiming it was targeting terror groups across its southwestern border—two days after Iran struck what it claimed were militant bases in Pakistan—triggering diplomatic tensions between the neighboring countries that are likely to escalate further now.
Key Facts
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry called the military action a “series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran.”
According to the state-controlled Islamic Republic News Agency, three women and four children were killed by the strikes.
The statement said Islamabad has repeatedly raised concerns with Tehran about “safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani origin terrorists…on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran,” for several years.
The ministry said Iran’s lack of action against these groups who “continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity” led to Thursday’s strikes and were based on intelligence about imminent “large-scale terrorist activities” these groups were planning.
The statement said Pakistan fully respected Iran’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” and the action was only meant to protect Pakistan’s security.
While the statement does not present the attacks as retaliation against Iran’s strikes, it alludes to them by saying “Pakistan will never allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be challenged.”
Surprising Fact
The Pakistani mission was named “Marg Bar Sarmachar” a portmanteau of the Farsi phrase “Marg Bar” which translates to “death to” and the Baluchi word Sarmachar which means “guerillas” according to the Associated Press. In Iran, the phrase “Marg Bar” is a widely known political chant that is used to target both America and Israel.
Crucial Quote
In a likely attempt to cushion pushback from Iran the Pakistan Foreign Ministry’s statement adds: “Iran is a brotherly country and the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people. We have always emphasized dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges.”