— Amb Tipu urges Iran to extend full cooperation in probe
— Victims hailed from Multan, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur Districts
TEHRAN: At least nine Pakistani nationals from Punjab province were killed and three others critically injured in an attack on a vehicle repair shop in the Sirkan area of Saravan City, located in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan Province, Iranian news agency The Qorasan Diary reported, citing Iranian and Pakistani officials as well as local media.
The victims hailed from districts including Multan, Muzaffaragarh, and Bahawalpur, according to initial reports. The armed assailants responsible for the attack remain unidentified.
Iranian media said it appears that these labourers from Pakistan’s Punjab Province killed in restive southeastern border area of Iran were an easy and soft target. According to Alarabiya Farsi, they were working in Iran as auto mechanics for the last fifteen years.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, confirmed the tragic incident and urged Iran to extend full cooperation in the matter.
In a statement posted on his social media handle, Ambassador Tipu expressed deep shock over the killings and assured that the embassy would provide support to the bereaved families. He also mentioned that a counselor from Zahidan is en route to the incident site and the hospital where the injured are receiving treatment.
Ambassador Tipu, who earlier in the day presented his credentials to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a special ceremony held at the presidency, emphasised the desire to strengthen ties between the two nations. He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to elevating Pakistan-Iran relations to new heights.
The attack comes amidst recent tensions between Pakistan and Iran, triggered by a series of incidents.
On January 16, Iran conducted missile and drone strikes within Pakistan’s Balochistan province, purportedly targeting the terrorist group Jaish ul-Adl. Pakistan condemned the “violation of its airspace” and recalled its ambassador from Iran.
In response, Pakistan launched a missile strike on a border village in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province on January 18, leading to Iranian protests.
However, with the intervention of common friends, both nations agreed to ease tensions and restore diplomatic relations. The deadly attack on Pakistani nationals in Iran adds complexity to the fragile relationship between the two neighboirs, raising concerns about security along their shared border.
