ISLAMABAD: Following an attack from Iran and violation of its air space, Pakistan on Wednesday expelled the Iranian ambassador and called back its envoy from Tehran.
Addressing a press conference here, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said all diplomatic engagements with Iran were being suspended and Iran has been informed about the decisions.
Iranian media earlier reported that Tehran had targeted a camp of a terror outfit in Panjgur, Balochistan, and demolished it.
“Two key strongholds of Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan” were “specifically targeted and successfully demolished by a combination of missile and drone attacks”, the Tasnim news agency of Iran said.
Political leaders in Pakistan condemned the incident and said violating Pakistan’s air space could dent bilateral ties.
China calls for restraint
On the other hand, China urged Pakistan and Iran to show “restraint”, after Islamabad denounced what it described as the “unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran”.
According to a statement released by the Foreign Office (FO) in Islamabad after midnight, strikes in Pakistani territory resulted in “deaths of two innocent children while injuring of three girls”.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: “We call on both sides to exercise restraint, avoid actions that would lead to an escalation of tension and work together to maintain peace and stability.”
“We consider both Iran and Pakistan as close neighbours and major Islamic countries,” she added.
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