Pakistan Recalls Ambassador and Bars Iran’s Envoy Following Deadly Border Attack
In a response to the recent Iranian missile attack that killed two children and injured three others along the Pakistan-Iran border, Pakistan has made the decision to recall its ambassador from Iran and bar the Iranian envoy from entering the country. This incident has further escalated the tensions between Pakistan and Iran, which have been ongoing along their 900km-long border.
This unfortunate incident is not an isolated event. In recent years, there have been several instances of violence that have strained diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries. In December 2023, the extremist group Jaish al-Adl attacked a police station in Iran, resulting in the death of 11 security personnel. Similarly, armed terrorists killed two Pakistani soldiers at a checkpoint in June of the same year.
The series of attacks continued in April 2023 when Iranian attackers killed four Pakistani border patrol soldiers. This was followed by the killing of four security officials in the border region in January 2023, which led to demands for a thorough investigation and accountability for the perpetrators. In September 2021, Pakistan claimed that a soldier was killed in cross-border firing and blamed terrorists in Iran.
Relations between the two countries were further strained in February 2021 when Iranian soldiers entered Pakistani territory to rescue captured intelligence agents. Back in April 2019, armed terrorists attacked a bus in Balochistan, resulting in the tragic deaths of 14 individuals. Another deadly incident occurred in December 2018 when a suicide car bomb attack on a police headquarters in Iran’s Chabahar led to four deaths and 42 injuries.
These incidents are just a few examples of the multitude of clashes that have occurred between Iran and Pakistan. In October 2018, 12 Iranian security personnel were kidnapped on the border, and in April 2018, three Iranian security personnel lost their lives in a cross-border attack. The tensions date back even further, with Pakistan shooting down an Iranian drone in June 2017 and the killing of 10 Iranian border guards in an attack claimed by Jaish al-Adl in April 2017.
The extremist group Jaish al-Adl has been responsible for numerous attacks on Iranian forces since 2013, resulting in multiple casualties and the abduction of security forces. Even as far back as December 2010, a suicide attack near a mosque in Chabahar resulted in a devastating toll of 41 deaths and 90 injuries.
The recent missile attack that claimed the lives of innocent children has undoubtedly further intensified the strain between Pakistan and Iran. It remains to be seen how the two countries will navigate this escalating situation and what steps will be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of those living along the border.
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