Pakistan has carried out missile strikes on camps housing militants affiliated with "anti-Pakistan" terrorist groups situated within Iranian territory, according to an AFP report citing an unnamed Pakistani intelligence official.
The official stated, "I can only confirm that we have carried out strikes against anti-Pakistan armed groups that are based in Iran," indicating that Pakistani authorities would release an official statement soon.
In response to these actions, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry disclosed that the nation conducted the Marg Bar Sarmachar counter-terrorism operation, targeting "terrorist hideouts" within Iran's Sistan and Balochistan province. The press release asserted, "This morning, Pakistan launched a series of highly coordinated and targeted precision military strikes on terrorist hideouts in Iran's Sistan and Balochistan province." The operation resulted in the elimination of several terrorists based on available intelligence.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry highlighted its longstanding concerns expressed to Tehran regarding the presence of terrorists of Pakistani origin in ungoverned territories within Iran, self-identifying as "Sarmachar" (Baloch nationalists - TASS). The ministry noted that Pakistan had previously handed over dossiers containing concrete evidence of the terrorists' activities in the designated areas to Iranian authorities. The statement further clarified that the morning's action was prompted by credible reports of an impending large-scale terrorist activity by the so-called Sarmachars.
Pakistan emphasized its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, underscoring that the sole purpose of the operation was to safeguard Pakistan's security and national interests. The country's foreign ministry emphasized that such paramount concerns cannot be jeopardized.
Prior to that, reports had emerged of explosions in various areas of the Seravan district in the Sistan and Balochistan province, located on the border with Pakistan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS