Pakistan condemns Iran over airstrike, death of 2 children

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Pakistan on Tuesday night condemned Iran over an airstrike inside the territory of the South Asian nation which resulted in the death of two children.

Islamabad “strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement after reports had claimed that Tehran launched attacks inside Pakistan.

Injuries were reported in the Panjgur area of southwestern Balochistan province of Pakistan.

The ministry said the Iranian airstrike resulted in the death of two children and injuries to three girls.

“This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences,” said the ministry.

Earlier, Iranian state media had claimed about the airstrikes inside Pakistan but later deleted the online version of such claims.

Calling the Iranian airstrike an “illegal act,” Islamabad said several channels of communication exist between Pakistan and Iran.

“Pakistan's strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran,” said the ministry.

Islamabad also summoned an Iranian diplomat in Pakistan to “convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,” said the statement.

“Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighborly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence,” said the ministry.

Iran has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.