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Arab News
6 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Islamabad says Iranian authorities confirm killing of two Pakistanis in Sistan-Baluchistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed the killing of two Pakistanis in Iran's volatile Sistan-Baluchistan province, saying that efforts were underway to repatriate the bodies. In a brief statement, the foreign office spokesperson said Iranian authorities have confirmed the killing of Pakistani nationals named Mujahid and Mohammed Faheem in Sistan-Baluchistan. However, the statement did not mention how the two were killed. The spokesperson said Pakistan's embassy in Tehran is in 'active communication' with Iranian authorities, who were extending the necessary support and assistance. 'Efforts are being made to repatriate the dead bodies as soon as necessary administrative and legal requirements are fulfilled,' he said. Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly from economically disadvantaged areas, frequently cross into Iran to take up informal work in sectors such as vehicle repair, construction and agriculture. One of Iran's poorest regions, Sistan-Baluchistan on the border with Pakistan has long been plagued by unrest involving drug-smuggling gangs, rebels from the Baloch minority and religiously motivated militants. Eight Pakistanis were killed in its Mehrestan County in April. The attack was claimed by the Balochistan National Army (BNA), one of several separatist outfits operating in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. Pakistan and Iran have had a history of rocky relations despite a number of commercial pacts, with Islamabad being historically closer to Saudi Arabia and the United States. Both countries are often at odds over instability on their shared porous border, routinely trading blame for not rooting out militancy.
Arab News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Bodies of eight Pakistani nationals killed in Iran to be repatriated tonight, says envoy
ISLAMABAD: The bodies of eight Pakistani nationals killed in Iran last week will be repatriated to the country later tonight, Pakistan's ambassador to Iran announced on Wednesday, saying that a military plane would bring back the corpses for urgent burial. Pakistan on Saturday confirmed eight of its nationals were killed in the Mehrestan County of Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan. The attack was claimed by the Balochistan National Army (BNA), one of several separatist outfits operating in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a televised address to the federal cabinet on Tuesday, hoped Iran would immediately arrest the killers and bring them to justice. 'All arrangements have been completed for sending mortal remains of 8 of our nationals to Bahawalpur tonight,' Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, Pakistan's ambassador to Iran, said on social media platform X. 'To honor the departed souls, our leadership is sending military plane for urgent burial.' My enormous thanks to Honorable PM, DPM, FO, PAF, & all institutions for supporting the endeavor . Very grateful to Iranian dignitaries who will be paying respects to jasd-e-khaki of our nationals at airport late tonight before their bodies are sent to .(2/2) — Ambassador Mudassir (@AmbMudassir) April 16, 2025 Tipu said the Iranian dignitaries will be paying their respects to the bodies before sending them to Pakistan. IRAN ASSURES 'FULL COOPERATION' Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi condoled the killing of the Pakistani nationals and assured Islamabad of 'full cooperation' in bringing the perpetrators to justice, Pakistan's foreign office said. Araghchi spoke to Pakistan's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in a telephone call, the foreign office said. 'Wherein the latter while offering condolences on the tragic death of eight Pakistanis in Iran assured full cooperation in bringing the perpetrators to justice and repatriating the mortal remains of the victims,' the statement said. Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly from economically disadvantaged areas, frequently cross into Iran to take up informal work in sectors such as vehicle repair, construction and agriculture. Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has faced a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. Baloch separatist groups accuse the central government of exploiting the region's natural resources such as gold and copper, without providing benefits to the local population. Islamabad denies these allegations, asserting that it is committed to improving the lives of Baloch residents through various development projects.
Arab News
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
PM Sharif hopes Tehran punishes culprits who killed 8 Pakistanis in Iran
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday condemned the recent killing of eight Pakistani nationals in Iran, hoping Tehran would arrest the culprits and hand them stern punishments. The Pakistani nationals were killed in the Mehrestan County of Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, on Saturday. The attack was claimed by the Balochistan National Army (BNA), one of several separatist outfits operating in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. Militant groups operate in the area that includes Pakistan's Balochistan and Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province. Both countries trade blame for militancy in the regions that are restive, mineral-rich and largely underdeveloped. 'The foreign minister [of Pakistan] has spoken to the foreign minister of Iran and I have also issued a statement,' Sharif told members of his cabinet during a meeting. 'We should hope that the Irani government will immediately arrest and hand stern punishments to the killers,' he added. The Pakistani prime minister condemned the attack in strong words. As per media reports, the Pakistani nationals who were killed in the attack were auto mechanics. Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly from underprivileged backgrounds, regularly cross into Iran for informal work in industries such as auto repair, agriculture and construction. Balochistan has witnessed a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. Baloch militant groups such as the BNA accuse the central government of exploiting local resources while neglecting the population. Islamabad denies the allegations and says it is committed to regional development.
Arab News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan seeks Iran's help to probe killing of eight nationals in Sistan-Baluchistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Sunday it hoped for full Iranian cooperation to investigate the killing of eight of its nationals in Sistan-Baluchistan province and was working to ensure the prompt repatriation of the victims' bodies. The news of the killings emerged in Pakistani media on Saturday evening, though the federal authorities initially remained silent. Later at night, the foreign office confirmed the development in response to media queries, saying its officials were in contact with Iranian authorities and would comment once details were confirmed. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the attack, which was claimed by a Baloch separatist group, and voiced concern that the incident had occurred on Iranian soil. 'Eight Pakistani nationals were tragically killed yesterday in Mehrestan County, Sistan-Baluchistan province, located approximately 230 kilometers from the Pakistan-Iran border,' the foreign office said in a statement. 'Our Mission has already requested consular access to verify their identities.' 'Pakistan strongly condemns the inhumane and cowardly killing of its nationals in Iran,' it continued. 'We hope for Iranian side's full cooperation in investigating the matter and timely repatriation of victims' remains.' The foreign office said the country's embassy in Tehran and consulate in Zahedan were in constant touch with Iranian authorities to ensure a comprehensive investigation and swift transfer of the bodies. A day earlier, Afghanistan's Khaama Press News Agency reported the victims were all auto mechanics. Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly from underprivileged backgrounds, regularly cross into Iran for informal work in industries such as auto repair, agriculture and construction. The Balochistan National Army (BNA), a separatist group from Pakistan's southwestern region, claimed responsibility for the killings, alleging that the victims were affiliated with Pakistan's premier intelligence agency. Balochistan, a resource-rich but restive province of Pakistan bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has witnessed a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. Baloch militant groups accuse the central government of exploiting local resources while neglecting the population. Islamabad denies the allegations and says it is committed to regional development. On Saturday night, the Pakistani premier called on the Iranian government to investigate the attack thoroughly and publicly share its findings. 'Terrorism is a scourge that is devastating for all countries in the region,' he said, urging regional states to adopt a coordinated strategy to root out militancy. The Iranian embassy in Islamabad also condemned the killings earlier today and emphasized the need for joint efforts to combat terrorism. 'Combating this ominous phenomenon requires collective and joint efforts by all countries to eradicate all forms of terrorism and extremism that have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people in recent decades,' it said. The incident echoes a similar attack in January 2023, when nine Pakistani laborers were killed and three others critically injured in Saravan, another city in Iran's southeastern region. Those victims were also reportedly employed at an auto repair shop. That attack had taken place at a time when Pakistan and Iran were seeking to normalize ties following tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes.
Express Tribune
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Iran condemns killing of eight Pakistanis in Sistan-Baluchestan attack
The Iranian embassy in Pakistan on Sunday condemned the killing of eight Pakistani workers in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, describing the attack as 'inhumane and cowardly.' A spokesman for the banned Balochistan National Army (BNA) claimed responsibility for Saturday's assault, in which gunmen stormed a car repair workshop in Mehrestan city and opened fire after tying up the workers. 'All eight victims were residents of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province,' Iranian officials confirmed. Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, denounced the killings, calling terrorism a shared threat to regional security. 'Combating this ominous phenomenon requires collective and joint efforts by all countries,' Moghadam said in a statement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep sorrow, calling the attack a brutal act of terrorism. He urged Tehran to arrest the perpetrators, ensure their swift punishment, and disclose the motive. The Pakistani government has instructed its embassy in Iran and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist the families and oversee the repatriation of the victims' bodies. Iranian police said investigations were underway after the assailants fled the scene. Authorities identified five of the victims as Dilshad, his son Muhammad Naeem, Jaffar, Danish and Nasir. This was the second such attack in Sistan-Baluchestan in recent months. In January 2024, nine Pakistanis were similarly shot dead in the province, following tensions along the Pakistan-Iran border.
