The office of Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, condemned the 'brutal murder of eight Pakistanis' on Iranian soil and urged Tehran to 'immediately arrest and punish the perpetrators of this crime.' Reports indicate that on Saturday, unidentified armed men entered a factory in the city of Mehristan in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, where Pakistani workers were sleeping, bound their hands and feet, and shot them. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also labeled the incident as 'terroristic' on Sunday, April 24, stating that Tehran would not spare any effort in identifying the perpetrators and instigators of this crime and ensuring justice is served. Some reports suggest that the 'Baloch Liberation Army,' a Pakistani separatist group, and the 'Jaish al-Adl' group, which operates from Pakistan and claims to advocate for the rights of Baluchis, including in Iran, have claimed responsibility for the attack. Radio Farda is not independently able to verify these reports. The 'Baloch Liberation Army' is one of the separatist groups in Pakistan that the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the central government of Pakistan consider a terrorist organization. The group's main base is in Kandahar, Afghanistan, but its primary activities are conducted in the Balochistan province against the Pakistani armed forces. The Iranian embassy in Pakistan also confirmed the number of casualties, labeling the attack as 'terroristic' and, like Islamabad, called for 'joint actions' to combat violence. Iran and Pakistan have repeatedly accused each other of allowing militants to use their territories for cross-border attacks. Last January, nine Pakistanis were also killed in the Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran. Armed attacks by opponents of the Islamic Republic, including Jaish al-Adl, have a long history in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, with a significant number of casualties on both sides during previous clashes.
Pakistan Calls for Arrest and Trial of Those Responsible for the Killing of Its Citizens in Iran
Eight Pakistani workers were killed in a factory in Iran, prompting Pakistan's Prime Minister to demand justice. The Iranian government has labeled the incident as terrorism and vowed to identify the perpetrators. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between Iran and Pakistan regarding cross-border militancy.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Eight Pakistani workers were killed in a factory in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province by unidentified armed men. Pakistan's Prime Minister has called for justice, and Iran has labeled the incident as terrorism.
- The attack occurred in the city of Mehristan, Iran.
- Both the Baloch Liberation Army and Jaish al-Adl have been mentioned in connection with the attack.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Sistan and Baluchestan is a volatile region with a history of ethnic tensions and militant activity, often involving Baloch separatist groups.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%