Iran’s missile and drone strike on targets inside Pakistan on Tuesday killed two children and wounded three others, according to the Pakistani government, which denounced the attack as an “unprovoked violation” of its sovereignty.
The attack, which Iran claimed was aimed at the bases of a Sunni militant group, Jaish al-Adl, in the mountainous region of Balochistan province, also threatened to escalate the tensions in the Middle East, where Israel is waging a war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming the attack, which was first reported by Iranian state media and then withdrawn. The statement said Pakistan strongly condemned the attack and warned that it could have serious consequences.
“This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences,” the statement said.
Jaish al-Adl, or the “Army of Justice”, is a Sunni militant group that operates across the border in Pakistan and has claimed responsibility for bombings and kidnappings of Iranian border guards in the past. Iran has accused Pakistan of harboring and supporting the group, which it considers a terrorist organization.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency and state television had said that missiles and drones were used in the strikes in Pakistan, but later removed the reports. Press TV, the English-language arm of Iranian state television, attributed the attack to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
The attack followed Iran’s strikes on Iraq and Syria less than a day earlier, as Tehran retaliated for a dual suicide bombing this month claimed by the Islamic State group that killed over 90 people in the Iranian city of Zahedan.
The attack also raised questions about the relations between Iran and Pakistan, which have maintained diplomatic ties despite their mutual suspicions and differences over regional issues. Pakistan, a predominantly Sunni Muslim country and a nuclear power, has tried to balance its ties with Iran, a Shiite Muslim country and a regional rival of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s close ally.
Pakistan has also been involved in efforts to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as between Iran and the United States, which have been locked in a standoff over Iran’s nuclear program and its role in the region.
The attack on Pakistan also drew criticism from human rights groups and activists, who expressed concern over the civilian casualties and the violation of international law.
“The Iranian attack on Pakistan is a blatant disregard for human rights and international law. It is unacceptable that Iran would target innocent civilians, especially children, in a neighboring country,” said Ali Reza, a human rights activist based in London.
Reza urged the international community to condemn the attack and hold Iran accountable for its actions.
“The international community must not remain silent on this issue. Iran must be pressured to stop its aggression and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan and other countries in the region,” he said.