Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 19th Jan. UN head António Guterres on Thursday said in a statement issued in New York that he was “deeply concerned” over tit for tat airstrikes carried out by Iran and Pakistan.
According to news media reports Iran on Wednesday carried out surprise attacks both inside Pakistan and Iraq which involved using precision missile and drone strikes targeted Sunni terrorist training camps in southwest Balochistan, in order to deter a planned terrorist incursion.
Iranian attacks were carried out after a suicide bombing operation by ISIL militants that killed more than 80 in the southeastern city of Kerman in Iran on 3 January.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Pakistan in retaliation to Iran attacks carried out in the form of “specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts” not far from the Iranian border.
Iran reported that 9 people had been killed in the attacks, including women and children, and none were Iranian citizens.
Iranian Foreign Ministry in a statement condemned the “unbalanced and unacceptable” attacks by Pakistan, but added that it would not allow “enemies to strain the amicable and brotherly relations of Tehran and Islamabad.”
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric issued a statement said Mr. Guterres was “deeply concerned about the recent exchange of military strikes between Iran and Pakistan, which have reportedly caused casualties on both sides.
“He urges both countries to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a further escalation of tensions.”
Mr. Guterrres underlined that all security concerns between the neighboring countries “must be addressed by peaceful means, through dialogue and cooperation, in accordance with the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and good neighborly relations.”
