Pakistan retaliates, hits ‘terror’ targets inside Iran: Military sources

By Islamuddin Sajid, Riyaz ul Khaliq and Syed Zafar Mehdi

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL/ TEHRAN (AA) – Pakistan has hit several targets inside Iran, a day after Tehran launched cross-border airstrikes which Islamabad called “illegal, unacceptable.”

“We hit at least seven BLA terrorist locations inside Iran,” a senior Pakistani intelligence official told Anadolu, referring to the Balochistan Liberation Army, a militant group fighting Pakistani security forces in the country's southwestern Balochistan province.

The targets were hit around 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) inside Iran, the official added.

Pakistan blasted Iran late Tuesday for violating its airspace and carrying out an airstrike, killing two children and injuring three others in Balochistan.

Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that several explosions were heard around the city of Saravan in southeastern Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province Thursday morning.

“Authorities investigating the cause,” it added.

Pakistan also downgraded diplomatic ties with Iran by recalling its ambassador from Tehran while suspending high-level contacts.

Islamabad is expected to issue an official statement soon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that Iran had launched the air strikes inside Pakistan.