Pakistan says it targeted armed groups’ hideouts in Iran in a series of attacks on Thursday morning.

Islamabad, Pakistan – Just over 24 hours after Iranian airstrikes in Balochistan, Pakistan attacked Iran with “very well-coordinated” military strikes, further ratcheting up tensions between the neighbors and raising fears of a wider conflict.

Pakistan conducted what it called an “intelligence-backed operation” against hideouts of armed groups in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province on Thursday morning, according to a statement from its foreign ministry.

The so-called operation, codenamed “Marg Bar Sarmachar” (Death to Saramchar), resulted in the deaths of “a number of terrorists,” Pakistan said, without specifying how many people were killed.

“In our relations with Iran in recent years, Pakistan has consistently expressed serious concerns about the sanctuaries and sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorists of Pakistani origin, who call themselves “Sarmachars”, in the ungoverned areas of Iran. Pakistan has also shared several dossiers containing concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“However, in the absence of any response to our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to shed the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning’s actions were taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities by these Sarmachars. This action reflects Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to protect and defend its national security from all threats.”

The Pakistani response came a day later Iran launched airstrikes Use of “drones and missiles” against Jaish al-Adl, an armed group near the town of Panjgur in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Iran. Tehran has accused Jaish al-Adl of several attacks in the past.

Pakistan responded to the Iranian attack that killed two children and injured three others by calling it “unacceptable” and saying the country reserved the right to respond to the “illegal act.”

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Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar

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The ministry said in its statement Thursday that Iran has been informed in recent years about safe havens of armed rebel groups seeking secession from Balochistan, Pakistan’s southwestern province that borders Iran.

“Pakistan has also shared several dossiers containing concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists,” the ministry said.

However, it added that due to a lack of action by the Iranian government, Pakistan decided to respond based on “credible intelligence.”

“Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sole objective of today’s law was to pursue Pakistan’s own security and national interests, which are of utmost importance and cannot be compromised,” the statement added.

The Iranian government has not yet acknowledged the Pakistani attack.

Pakistan had earlier recalled its envoy from Tehran to express its displeasure over the Iranian attack. It also said it would ban Iran’s ambassador in Islamabad – who is currently not in Pakistan – from returning to the mission.

Pakistani Interim Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Hours before the Iranian attack.

On Wednesday, however said Amirabdollahian The attack on “Pakistan’s soil” was in response to the group’s recent attacks on the Iranian town of Rask in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province.

He stressed that while Iran respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the country will not compromise on its own security.

“The group has taken refuge in some parts of Pakistan’s Balochistan province. We have spoken to Pakistani officials several times on this matter,” he added.