ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday said that Pakistan would not compromise on its territorial integrity and national security and would take all essentials steps to defend its soil.
In a press statement issued by Pakistan’s President office, he appreciated the professionalism of the Armed Forces of Pakistan that targeted the terrorist hideouts in the Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran, while also avoiding the civilian casualties.
He said that terrorism was a common challenge that needed global efforts for its elimination. The President said that Pakistan completely respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations and expected the same from other nations not to violate global law. The president stated that Pakistan and Iran were brotherly states and they needed to resolve issues via dialogue and mutual consultation.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا ایران کے سیستان و بلوچستان صوبے میں پاکستان کی کاروائی پر بیان
پاکستان اپنی قومی سلامتی و علاقائی سالمیت پر سمجھوتہ نہیں کرے گا ، صدر مملکت
پاکستان اپنی سرزمین کے دفاع کیلئے تمام ضروری اقدامات کرے گا، صدر مملکت
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) January 18, 2024
Pakistan on Thursday’s morning struck terrorist hideouts in Iran’s Sistan-o-Baluchistan province, less than 48 hours following Iran violated Pakistan’s airspace.
The Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement that a number of terrorists were killed during the intelligence-based operation codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’. Iran’s media also reported that nine people, including “non-Iranian citizens”, were killed in the strike targeting a village near the city of Saravan.
The Foreign Office statement said Pakistan undertook a series of “highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes” against terrorist hideouts in Iran’s Sistan-o-Baluchistan.
In a press briefing later on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan’s Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, who is currently in Switzerland for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), had taken a decision to cut short his trip “in light of the developments”.
