Pakistan withdrew its ambassador from Iran on Wednesday and prevented Tehran’s envoy from re-entering Islamabad. This action was taken in response to an Iranian airstrike that resulted in the death of two children in the western part of the country a day earlier.
Pakistan recalled its ambassador from Iran Wednesday and blocked Tehran’s envoy from returning to Islamabad after an Iranian airstrike killed two children in the west of the country a day earlier.
The foreign ministry recalled its ambassador from Tehran and said Iran’s envoy—currently on a visit home—would not be allowed to return to Islamabad.
Iranian news agency Mehr News said the “missile and drone” attack targeted the Jaish al-Adl group’s headquarters in Pakistan, calling it “another decisive step taken by Iran in response to the aggression against the security of our country.”
Pakistan denounced the strike, near the nations’ shared border.
Tehran’s top diplomat insisted his country’s armed forces had targeted “Iranian terrorist group” Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan.
“None of the nationals of the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan were targeted by Iranian missiles and drones,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Tehran and Islamabad frequently accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from the other’s territory to launch attacks, but it is rare for official forces on either side to engage.
“It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
