<\/p>\n
The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday said it was in touch with Iranian authorities over the \u201chorrifying and despicable\u201d killing of Pakistani nationals by terrorists in the neighbouring country.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Mehr<\/em> news agency reported<\/a> earlier today that \u201caccording to witnesses, this morning unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighbourhood of Saravan city\u201d in the Sistan-Baluchistan province.<\/p>\n The agency added that no group or individuals had claimed responsibility.<\/p>\n The Baluch rights group Haalvash said on its website that the victims were Pakistani labourers, who lived at an auto repair shop where they worked. Three others were wounded, it said.<\/p>\n A statement issued by FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in response to media queries on the matter said: \u201cIt is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally. We are in touch with Iranian authorities and have underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in this heinous crime.\u201d<\/p>\n She said Pakistan\u2019s consul in Zahedan was en route to the hospital where the injured were being treated and would reach in a \u201cfew hours due to long distances and security imperatives involved\u201d.<\/p>\n Baloch said the consul will also meet local authorities and \u201cimpress upon them the urgent need for strong action against the perpetrators of this crime\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are fully seized of this grave matter and are taking all necessary measures in this regard. The embassy will do its best to repatriate dead bodies at the earliest,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cSuch cowardly attacks cannot deter Pakistan from its determination to fight terrorism,\u201d the FO spokesperson added.<\/p>\n Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani termed the incident as an \u201cattempt to spoil relations between Pakistan and Iran by our common enemies\u201d.<\/p>\n Earlier, Pakistan\u2019s envoy in Tehran, Ambassador Muddasir Tipu said: \u201cDeeply shocked by horrifying killing of nine Pakistanis in Saravan. Embassy will extend full support to bereaved families. Counsel Zahidan is already on his way to incident site and hospital where injured are under treatment. We called upon Iran to extend full cooperation in the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n Tipu told Dawn.com<\/em> the count of injured was three and he was overseeing the entire process himself.<\/p>\n He said he was in touch with Pakistani authorities as well.<\/p>\n The development occurred a day after Mudassir arrived in Tehran while his Iranian counterpart landed in Islamabad, signalling the full restoration<\/a> of diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries following a brief disruption in ties after Iran conducted strikes on alleged terrorist targets inside Pakistani territory.<\/p>\n Earlier in the day, Mudassir said he was honoured to present his credentials to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will reach Islama\u00adbad on Sunday at the invitation of FM Jilani.<\/p>\n Last week, Iran had laun\u00adched attacks<\/a> in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan, Iranian state media reported, prompting strong condemnation from Islamabad and downgrading<\/a> of diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n Less than 48 hours later, Pakistan struck<\/a> \u201chideouts used by terrorist organisations namely Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF)\u201d in Iran\u2019s Sistan-Baluchestan province, in an intelligence-based operation codenamed \u2018Marg Bar Sarmachar\u2019.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s IRNA<\/em> news agency had reported<\/a> that nine people were killed in the attack targeting a village in the city of Saravan, with Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi saying all the dead \u201cwere foreign nationals\u201d. Iran had condemned strikes and summoned<\/a> Pakistan\u2019s charge d\u2019affaires \u201cto protest and request an explanation from the Pakistani government\u201d.<\/p>\n In Islamabad, the escalation had prompted a high-level meeting of Pakistan\u2019s premier authority on security and foreign policy, the National Security Committee. It was chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar with cabinet members, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Staff, and other heads of intelligence in attendance.<\/p>\n During the hours-long meeting on Friday, the NSC had ratified the move towards reducing tensions between Pakistan and Iran and underscored a commitment to addressing mutual security concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cThe forum (NSC) expressed that Iran is a neighbourly and brotherly Muslim country, and existing multiple communication channels between the two countries should be mutually utilised to address each other\u2019s security concerns in the larger interest of regional peace and stability,\u201d a statement issued by the prime minister\u2019s office after the meeting said.<\/p>\n The NSC hoped that both countries \u201cwould mutually be able to overcome minor irritants through dialogue and diplomacy and pave the way to further deepen their historic relations\u201d but at the same time emphasised that any violation, under any pretext, would be met with the state\u2019s full force.<\/p>\n That sentiment was reciprocated by Tehran, whose foreign ministry, in a statement later that day, had said Iran \u201cadheres to the policy of good neighbourliness and brotherhood between the two nations and the two governments\u201d.<\/p>\n