Day after ‘unprovoked’ missile strike, Pakistan expels Iranian ambassador, recalls its envoy

In an escalation of tensions following Iran’s violation of Pakistani airspace, Islamabad on Wednesday recalled its ambassador from Tehran and expelled the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan.

The move comes a day after Iranian missiles and drones hit targets in Pakistan’s Balochistan on Tuesday, demolishing what semi-official media described as “two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish al-Adl) terrorist group”.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson termed the strike as an “illegal and unacceptable act” and asserted that Islamabad reserves the right to respond, Reuters reported. Further, all ongoing and planned high-level visits between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days have been suspended, the spokesperson said.

Pakistan had earlier issued a “strong condemnation of the unprovoked violation of its airspace”, and said the attacks had “resulted in the death of two innocent children while injuring three girls”. The statement by the Pakistani foreign ministry said a protest had been lodged with Tehran, and the Iranian charge d’affaires had been summoned to the ministry “to convey our strongest condemnation”.

The attacks took place in the town of Panjgur close to the border with Iran, Dawn reported. A mosque about 50 km inside the Pakistani border was damaged in the strikes, the AP reported, quoting two unnamed Pakistani security officials.

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