Iranian airstrikes in Pakistan: India says it understands the actions countries are taking in self-defense
The Ministry of External Affairs said India has 'zero tolerance for terrorism' and this is a matter between Iran and Pakistan.
New Delhi: In the latest development of the Iranian airstrikes in Pakistan, India said that the Iranian missile attack on Pakistan is an issue that concerns only these two countries and added that New Delhi has “zero tolerance for terrorism” and understands “actions taken by countries out of self defense'. '.
Zero tolerance towards terrorism: MEA
“This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan. As far as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand the actions countries are taking in self-defense,” said foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal.
Earlier on Wednesday, amid the diplomatic standoff over the Iranian airstrike on a terror camp in Balochistan, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain said the airstrikes in Pakistan were against an “Iranian terrorist group” and that the government of Tehran had asked Pakistan several times to take action against the group.
What Iran said during airstrikes
“The so-called Jaish al-Adl group, an Iranian terrorist group, was targeted,” Abdollahian said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.
“The group has taken shelter in some parts of Pakistan's Balochistan province. This group has killed our security forces. We only targeted the Iranian terrorist group on the territory of Pakistan. He stressed that while Iran respects Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the country would not “allow the country's national security to be compromised or toyed with.”
“We do not hesitate when it comes to national interests and those terrorist groups in Pakistan,” the Iranian foreign minister said.
Everything you need to know about the Jaish al-Adl group
Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), an armed Sunni Islamist group, has previously launched attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan. Following Iran's launch of a barrage of missiles on Pakistan, Islamabad on Wednesday expelled the Iranian ambassador from the country and recalled its ambassador from Tehran, Geo News reported.
“Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, who is currently visiting Iran, will not return for the time being,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a press conference in Islamabad.
Earlier, Iran attacked the headquarters of a terrorist group opposing Tehran with drones and missiles on Pakistani soil late on Tuesday evening.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is “completely unacceptable” and warned of serious consequences. It further said that Iran took this action despite the existence of several communication channels between the two nations.
“Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act and the responsibility for the consequences will lie solely with Iran,” Baloch said, adding that Islamabad had conveyed the message to the Iranian government,” the ministry spokesperson said. of Foreign Affairs.
Founded in 2012, Jaish al-Adl, designated by Iran as a “terrorist” organization, is a Sunni terrorist group active in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan.
Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched numerous attacks on Iranian security forces. In December, Jaish al-Adl took responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Balochistan that killed at least 11 police personnel, Al Arabiya News reported.
(With input from agencies)