In response to its warning to Tehran about "serious consequences" following an attack on Jaish al-Adl's headquarters in Balochistan, Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Thursday against what it termed "terrorist hideouts" in Iran. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry reported that "a number of terrorists" were killed during the intelligence-based operation, codenamed "Marg Bar Sarmachar." However, Iranian media claimed that seven individuals, including four children, lost their lives in the attack.

These retaliatory strikes occurred days after Iran's assault on "terrorist targets" in Pakistan, an incident that Islamabad alleges resulted in the death of two children.

"This morning, Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Sistan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran," stated Pakistan's Foreign Ministry in an official statement. Islamabad emphasized that the action was a "manifestation of Pakistan's unflinching resolve" to protect its national security against all threats, referring to Iran as a “brotherly country.”

"The sole objective of today's act was in pursuit of Pakistan's own security and national interest, which is paramount and cannot be compromised," the Ministry added, emphasizing full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.

The statement further highlighted Pakistan's consistent sharing of serious concerns about safe havens for Pakistani-origin terrorists, referred to as 'Sarmachars,' within Iran's ungoverned spaces. Pakistan claimed to have shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists.

"However, because of a lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning's action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities by these so-called Sarmachars," it added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran targeted two bases of Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan's Balochistan province with missiles and drones.

Condemning Iran's "violation of its airspace," Pakistan warned that such actions could have “serious consequences.”

"Last night's unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan's sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. This illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this "illegal act," and the responsibility for the consequences will lie "squarely" with Iran, the Ministry said.

"We have conveyed this message to the Iranian Government. We have also informed them that Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran, and the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, currently visiting Iran, may not return for the time being. We have also decided to suspend all high-level visits that were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days," the spokesperson added.

These developments come amid the Hamas-Israel conflict in the Middle East and rising attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.

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