Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has stated that Pakistan has “definitely sent a clear message to the entire region, including India,” in reaction to Iran’s airspace violation.
“[After the airspace violation,] Pakistan was left with no choice but to respond to Iran.” “The response has definitely had a message for India as well as the entire region,” the prime minister said in an interview with a private TV station on Thursday.
Following Iran’s surprise operation in Balochistan claiming to target a militant group last week, Pakistan’s military bombed terrorist hideouts within the Iranian border on January 18.
Pakistan’s reprisal, however, resulted in the deaths of several terrorists during the intelligence-based operation, codenamed “Marg Bar Sarmachar,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Iran’s strike, which Pakistan’s Foreign Office described as “unprovoked and unacceptable,” killed two children and injured three females, violating the country’s sovereignty.
PM Kakar thanked Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir for Islamabad’s reaction to Tehran. “Despite the prevailing political crisis, the entire nation supported the reaction.”
“It was a difficult decision to make since we have made it clear that we will respond swiftly to any behavior from India. In this instance, Pakistan does not have a border issue with Iran. The whole world was watching Pakistan to see how it responded to such transgressions.”
The PM stated bluntly: “Iran took the wrong step, so we responded; otherwise, we would have been chosen to remain silent.” Despite the fact that there are active communication lines, I could not discover a plausible justification for Tehran’s move.
Amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Iran, the PM stated that he purposely delayed issuing a comment despite being urged by numerous individuals. “I didn’t release a statement, as the next response would be our true expression.”
He further stated, “In the Iranian strike, our countrymen were slain. In retaliation, Pakistan killed miscreants.”
When asked about avoiding such acts, PM Kakar advised both nations to engage all intelligence and military channels to better calm the Pakistan-Iran border situation.
The situation is finally returning to normal after Islamabad and Tehran agreed that both nations’ ambassadors will return to their respective positions by January 26.
Furthermore, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian will pay a visit to Pakistan on January 29 at the request of interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Maria Ghanchi