The shooting happened before Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian’s scheduled visit to Pakistan on Monday.
Unidentified gunmen fatally shot nine Pakistani workers in a volatile southeastern border area of Iran on Saturday, according to Pakistan’s ambassador and Iranian state media. This incident occurred as both countries attempted to improve relations following recent tit-for-tat attacks.
The unfortunate event adds complexity to the ongoing efforts to mend ties, highlighting challenges in fostering stability and cooperation between Pakistan and Iran.
“Deeply shocked by the horrifying killing of 9 Pakistanis in Saravan. The embassy will extend full support to bereaved families,” the Pakistani ambassador to Tehran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, said on the X platform. “We called upon Iran to extend full cooperation in the matter.”
Iranian state media reported that the police are searching for three gunmen who ran away after the shooting incident.
According to Baluch rights group Haalvash, the victims were Pakistani laborers residing and working at an auto repair shop. The group’s website reported that three others were injured in the incident.
State media reported that no individuals or groups have claimed responsibility for the shootings in Saravan, Sistan-Baluchestan province.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch called the incident horrifying and despicable, condemning it strongly. She stated they are in contact with Iranian authorities, emphasizing the importance of an immediate investigation and holding those responsible accountable.
The shooting happened before Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian’s scheduled visit to Pakistan on Monday.
State media reported that the Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors are returning to their respective positions. They were called back when the two countries exchanged missile strikes last week, targeting what they claimed were militant sites.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, while accepting Ambassador Mudassir Tipu’s credentials on Saturday, emphasized the importance of safeguarding the Iran-Pakistan border.
He stated that the border provides a chance for economic exchanges and should be protected from any security threats, as reported by state media.
The poor Sistan-Baluchestan region has often experienced occasional conflicts between security forces and groups seeking separation. Additionally, there are clashes with smugglers transporting opium from Afghanistan, the world’s leading producer of the drug.
Iran has among the lowest fuel prices globally. However, there is a rise in fuel smuggling to Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite efforts by Iranian border guards to curb it.