Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar: Pakistan conducts military strikes in Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday morning carried out a series of “highly coordinated” and “specifically targeted precision” military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan Baluchistan province of Iran, killing a number of terrorists.

“This morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement. “A number of terrorists were killed during the Intelligence-based operation – codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’,”

The spokesperson said that over the last several years, in bilateral engagements with Iran, Pakistan had consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani-origin terrorists calling themselves Sarmachars on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran.

Pakistan also shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists, she added.

“However, because of a lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning’s action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities by these so-called Sarmachars,” the spokesperson remarked.

She said the action was a manifestation of Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats.

The spokesperson said that the successful execution of the said “highly complex operation” was also a testimony to the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

Pakistan will continue to take all necessary steps to preserve the safety and security of its people which is sacrosanct, inviolable and sacred, she added.

She reiterated that Pakistan fully respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised, she added.

She said that as a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan upheld the principles and purposes of the UN Charter including territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states.

The spokesperson said that guided by the said principles, and in exercise of the legitimate rights within international law, Pakistan would never allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be challenged, under any pretext or circumstances.

“Iran is a brotherly country and the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people. We have always emphasized dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism and will continue to endeavour to find joint solutions,” the spokesperson added.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani earlier firmly underscored that the attack conducted by Iran inside Pakistani territory, on January 16, was not only a serious breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty but was also an egregious violation of international law and the spirit of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran.

“Expressing Pakistan’s unreserved condemnation of the attack, the Foreign Minister added that the incident has caused serious damage to bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iran.

The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan reserved the right to respond to this provocative act,” the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.

The foreign minister who is currently leading the Pakistan delegation to the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Kampala, Uganda, received a telephone call from Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir Abdollahian.

Stressing that terrorism was a common threat to the region and required concerted and coordinated efforts to combat this menace, Foreign Minister Jilani underlined that unilateral actions could seriously undermine regional peace and stability. No country in the region should tread this perilous path, he stressed.

A day earlier, Pakistan decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and suspend all high-level visits following the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan had also conveyed that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who was currently visiting Iran might not return for the time being.

“We have conveyed this message to the Iranian Government. We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being,” the spokesperson remarked.

She said that the unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty by Iran was a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

She said that the said the illegal act was completely unacceptable and had no justification whatsoever.

“Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act. The responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran,” she said.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan had also decided to suspend all high-level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days.