New Delhi: Pakistan directed a tongue-in-cheek remark at India Thursday, saying New Delhi would understand that Pakistan’s retaliatory strike against Iran Thursday morning was in “self-defence”.
Those were the words that India had used after Iran carried out a series of airstrikes in Pakistan on 16 January, claiming it had targeted the headquarters of Sunni militant group Jaish ul-Adl.
India weighed in shortly after Iran’s strikes, saying it understands “actions that countries take in their self defence”.
A day later, Pakistan carried out air strikes against “terrorist hideouts” in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran.
In a weekly press briefing Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumztaz Zahrwa Baloch said the sole objective of its strikes in Iran were in pursuit of its own national security and sovereignty.
“Pakistan will never allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be challenged under any pretext or circumstances,” she said.
Asked about reactions from other countries in the region, the spokesperson said: “I am sure that India will understand the action Pakistan has taken in its self-defence today.”
On Wednesday, several countries including the US, China and India reacted to the escalating tensions between Iran and Pakistan.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: “This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. So far as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self defence.”
China, meanwhile, urged the two neighbours to exercise restraint, while the US condemned Iran’s attacks on Pakistani soil, adding that Tehran continued to violate the sovereign borders of other countries like Syria and Iraq.
Earlier this week, Iran conducted a missile strike on targets in northern Iraq, which it claimed was an Israeli espionage centre. Iraq-Iran bilateral relations took a hit, after Iraq recalled its ambassador in Tehran in protest.
Similarly, Pakistan downgraded ties with Iran following its air strikes. Islamabad recalled its ambassador in Tehran and asked Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, currently abroad, not to return to Pakistan.
‘Not aware of third-party mediation’
In a weekly briefing, the Pakistan Foreign Office was asked about the possibility of third-party mediation by regional stakeholders.
“I am not aware of third-party mediation. Pakistan and Iran do have several channels of communications,” the spokesperson said, adding that Iran remained a “brotherly” country for Pakistan.
“We also believe that dialogue and cooperation is essential for confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism. We would like to continue to engage with our neighbour Iran to combat this menace and to ensure that peace prevails,” they added.
A statement from the Pakistan Foreign Office Thursday, however, indicated that Pakistan carried out attacks on terrorist hideouts in Iran due to “lack of action” from Tehran, after the issue had been raised several times over the past few years.
In view of the escalating tensions, Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar Kakar, currently attending the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, and Pakistan’s caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, in Uganda for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, have cut short their trips.
Pakistan’s general elections are slated to be held next month.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Tension escalates: Pakistan carries out air strikes in Iran after bombing by Tehran in Balochistan