China has urged Pakistan and Iran to exercise restraint following an airstrike by Tehran on Pakistani territory. The strike reportedly killed two children. Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry, emphasized the need for both nations to maintain peace and stability.
The strike, which Iran claims targeted militant group Jaish al-Adl, heightened tensions between Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan condemned the attack as an unprovoked violation of its sovereignty. Tehran’s state-run News agency reported that the strike destroyed Jaish al-Adl’s Pakistan headquarters. This group, established in 2012, is labelled a terrorist organization by Iran and has launched attacks on Iranian soil.
The incident occurred amid regional crises, including Iranian missile attacks in Syria and Iraq and conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, and Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Read: Iran Conducts Airstrikes in Pakistan’s Balochistan, Escalating Regional Tensions
The Drone Strike Incident
Iranian drone and missile strikes in Balochistan’s Panjgur district resulted in the death of two children and injured three girls. Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) described the attack as an unprovoked violation of its airspace and warned of serious consequences. The strikes reportedly targeted Jaish al-Adl bases in Pakistan, following Iran’s attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria.
Pakistan disputed Iran’s claim that the targets were terrorist hideouts and strongly protested the violation of its sovereignty. Tehran alleges Jaish al-Adl also operates from Pakistan, a claim Islamabad contests.
The strike’s timing was surprising as it coincided with diplomatic engagements between Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan’s strong protest was lodged with Iranian officials, and Pakistan’s foreign ministry summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires. The FO statement expressed concern over the unilateral act and its potential to harm bilateral trust. Pakistan reiterated that terrorism requires a coordinated regional response.
