Islamabad condemns ‘horrifying’ killing of nine Pakistanis in Iran amid efforts to mend ties

Police officers stand guard at the main entry gate of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Islamabad on January 18, 2024. (AP)

• Unidentified gunmen killed nine Pakistani workers in Iran’s restive southeastern border area of Saravan, according to Pakistan’s envoy
• The development comes day after Pakistani, Iranian envoys returned to posts after being recalled following last week’s tit-for-tat strikes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemned the “horrifying” killing of nine Pakistanis in southeast Iran, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Saturday, amid efforts from both sides to restore ties after last week’s tit-for-tat strikes in each other’s territory.
The nine Pakistani workers were killed by unidentified gunmen in Iran’s restive southeastern border area of Saravan on Saturday, according to Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran and a rights group.
Haalvash, the Baluch rights group, said on its website the victims were Pakistani laborers who lived at an auto repair shop where they worked. Three others were wounded, it added.
Iran’s state media identified the dead only as foreign nationals and said no individuals or groups had claimed responsibility for the killings in Saravan in the restless Sistan-Baluchestan province.
“It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally,” Pakistani foreign ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement.
“We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime.”
The development came a day after Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors returned to their posts after being recalled when both countries exchanged missile strikes last week at what they said were militant targets.
The strikes by the two countries were the highest-profile cross-border intrusions in recent years, however, both countries quickly moved to de-escalate tensions.
“Our Consul in Zahedan is on way to the hospital where injured people are being treated and will reach there in a few hours due to long distances and security imperatives involved,” Baloch said.
“He will also meet local authorities, and among other things, impress upon them the urgent need for strong action against the perpetrators of this crime.”
The impoverished Sistan-Baluchestan region has long been the scene of sporadic clashes between security forces and separatist militants and smugglers.
Iran has some of the lowest fuel prices in the world and this has also led to an increase in fuel-smuggling to Pakistan and Afghanistan despite a crackdown by Iranian border guards.