Pakistan Says Killing Of Its Citizens In Iran Aimed At Disrupting Ties

Pakistan's foreign minister has called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to address the armed attack on Saturday morning in Saravan, Sistan-Baluchestan province.

Nine Pakistani workers were killed by unidentified gunmen in a restive southeastern border region of Iran on Saturday. The incident occurred just over a week after a deadly exchange of cross-border missile fire between the neighboring countries, resulting in the deaths of nearly a dozen individuals, including at least two children.

Jalil Abbas Jilani, urged the authorities of the Islamic Republic to address the issue, saying, " This heinous attack is an attempt to spoil relations between Pakistan and Iran by our common enemies."

So far, no group has claimed responsibility.

The Sistan and Baluchestan deputy governor, Alireza Marhamati, told state news agency IRNA that according to survivors of the incident, "Three-armed people shot at the foreigners (Pakistanis) after entering their residence and fled the scene."

Pakistan's new ambassador to Iran also said he was "deeply shocked by horrifying killing of nine Pakistanis in Saravan” and asked Tehran to extend its cooperation for investigating the armed attack.

Naser Kanaani, the spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also condemned the attack, saying,“Iran and Pakistan will not allow enemies to damage the brotherly ties between the two countries.”

Sistan-Baluchistan, among the predominantly Sunni Muslim regions in Shiite-majority Iran, is a scene of ongoing turmoil involving drug trafficking networks crossing borders, insurgents from the Baluchi ethnic groups, and armed factions.