{"id":49745,"date":"2024-01-19T09:32:58","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T09:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/operation-marg-bar-sarmachar-pakistan-strikes-back-hits-terrorist-hideouts-in-iran-daily-times\/"},"modified":"2024-01-19T09:32:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T09:32:58","slug":"operation-marg-bar-sarmachar-pakistan-strikes-back-hits-terrorist-hideouts-in-iran-daily-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/operation-marg-bar-sarmachar-pakistan-strikes-back-hits-terrorist-hideouts-in-iran-daily-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar: Pakistan strikes back; hits terrorist hideouts in Iran – Daily Times"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"\"Pakistan carried out early morning air strikes on terrorist hideouts in Iran\u2019s Siestan-o-Balochistan province on Thursday in what appears to be a response to Tehran\u2019s violation of its airspace two days ago.<\/p>\n

The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed the unprecedented action in a statement released shortly after. \u201cThis morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. A number of terrorists were killed during the Intelligence-based operation \u2013 codenamed \u2018Marg Bar Sarmachar\u2019,\u201d the FO statement read. A day earlier, Pakistan recalled its ambassador from Iran and expelled Tehran\u2019s envoy in a swift move to the Iranian missile strikes as extensive consultations were underway to decide the next step.<\/p>\n

It was the first time that Pakistan had to recall its envoy from Iran, although the two countries have had troubled relations in the past. This highlights the level of tensions between the two neighbours.<\/p>\n

The rapid deterioration in ties was triggered by Iran\u2019s missile and drone strikes inside Pakistan on Tuesday. Iran claimed the strikes were aimed at two \u2018terrorist bases\u2019 of Jaish-al Adl, a terrorist group operating from Iran\u2019s Sistan-Baluchistan province.<\/p>\n

Pakistan strongly condemned what it called the \u201cunprovoked violation of its airspace\u201d by Iran and warned of serious consequences. Islamabad contested the Iranian claims and said the strikes killed two innocent children and injured three girls.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, the FO stated that, \u201cOver the last several years, in our engagements with Iran, Pakistan has consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani-origin terrorists calling themselves Sarmachars on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran. Pakistan also shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, 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\u2019s action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large scale terrorist activities by these so called Sarmachars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pakistan maintained that the action was \u201ca manifestation of Pakistan\u2019s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe successful execution of this highly complex operation is also a testimony to the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan will continue to take all necessary steps to preserve the safety and security of its people which is sacrosanct, inviolable and sacred,\u201d it added. \u201cPakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sole objective of today\u2019s act was in pursuit of Pakistan\u2019s own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised,\u201d maintained the FO. A Pakistani intelligence source told Reuters the strikes were carried out by military aircraft.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur forces have conducted strikes to target Baloch militants inside Iran,\u201d the intelligence official in Islamabad, the capital, said. \u201cThe targeted militants belong to BLF,\u201d he added, referring to the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). \u201cAs a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan upholds the principles and purposes of the UN Charter including territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states. Guided by these principles, and in exercise of our legitimate rights within international law, Pakistan will never allow its sovereignty and territorial integrity to be challenged, under any pretext or circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

The FO maintained that Iran is a \u201cbrotherly country and the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people\u201d. \u201cWe have always emphasized dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism and will continue to endeavour to find joint solutions,\u201d the FO statement concluded. In a press briefing later in the day, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar was not against Iran, but carried out solely to target the terrorists of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) residing there.<\/p>\n

Mumtaz said that Pakistan valued its brotherly neighbour Iran and held great respect and love for its people. She added that the Pakistan Army conducted an intelligence-based operation and killed militants on the basis of evidence available with it of the terrorists\u2019 presence in Iran. She further said that the successful conduct of such a complex operation was also a testament to the professionalism of Pakistan\u2019s armed forces, asserting that the country was capable of shielding itself while remaining cautious with regard to the safety of its citizens.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a responsible member of the international community, Pakistan upholds the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter. We have always emphasised dialogue and cooperation to address common challenges, including the scourge of terrorism, so far there has been no contact from the Iranian authorities in the past couple of hours,\u201d she said. The spokesperson said that Pakistan had been in touch with Iran over the matter of BLA and BLF terrorist presence over the past several months, stating that Iran was deeply respected and considered a brotherly nation.<\/p>\n

She claimed that Iran has not shared any details of the attack in their region so far. \u201cPakistan can successfully defend itself against all threats,\u201d Mumtaz said. \u201cWhatever happened two days ago came as a shock to everyone,\u201d she added. The Pakistan armed forces struck hideouts used by terrorist organisations, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), inside Iran in an intelligence-based operation, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday. The military\u2019s media wing elaborated that the \u201cprecision strikes\u201d were carried out using armed drones, rockets, loitering munitions and stand-off weapons. \u201cMaximum care was taken to avoid collateral damage.\u201d \u201cThe targeted hideouts were being used by notorious terrorists including Dosta alias Chairman, Bajjar alias Soghat, Sahil alias Shafaq, Asghar alias Basham and Wazir alias Wazi, amongst others,\u201d said the ISPR.<\/p>\n

The military assured that the armed forces \u201cremain in a perpetual state of readiness to ensure the safety of Pakistan citizens against acts of terrorism.\u201d \u201cOur resolve to ensure that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan is respected and safeguarded against any misadventure remains unwavering. We reaffirm our determination to defeat all enemies of Pakistan with the support of the people of Pakistan.\u201d Signalling de-escalation, the military said that going forward dialogue and cooperation are \u201cdeemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues\u201d between Islamabad and Tehran. Iran\u2019s Press TV reported that the country has summoned the Pakistani charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires in protest of the \u2018attack\u2019 on the southeastern Iranian province.<\/p>\n

The U.S. State Department on Thursday urged restraint on all sides in tensions between Iran and Pakistan, after Pakistan launched strikes on separatist militants inside Iran in a retaliatory attack two days after Tehran said it struck the bases of another group within Pakistani territory.<\/p>\n

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Pakistan\u2019s statements about the importance of cooperative relations with neighbors were productive and useful.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pakistan carried out early morning air strikes on terrorist hideouts in Iran\u2019s Siestan-o-Balochistan province on Thursday in what appears to be a response to Tehran\u2019s violation of its airspace two days ago. The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed the unprecedented action in a statement released shortly after. \u201cThis morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":49746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/dailytimes.com.pk\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Foreign-Office.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-updates-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49745"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49745\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}