The government of Pakistan has rejected the reports that a dozen people were killed in an alleged drone strike by Iran on Thursday.
The spokesperson of Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in response to a question during the usual media briefing today that there is no truth in this news. We deny any such statement.’
Earlier, according to Levies officials in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, 12 people were killed and three others were injured in an alleged Iranian drone attack on Tuesday night in the Panjgur area on the border between Pakistan and Iran.
According to the Levies Force, the incident took place near the Rukhshan River in an area called Nikar Bazar.
The extremist organization Jaish-ul-Adl also announced in a statement that 12 of its fighters were killed and four were injured.
It was said in the statement that the attack was carried out by the forces of Pakistan and Iran together, but Pakistan has completely denied this.
Abdul Ghaffar, an officer of Levies Force in Panjgur, while giving details to Independent Urdu on phone, said that hundreds of people were traveling towards Iran in four vehicles from Pakistan on Tuesday night when they were attacked near the Rukhshan river in the middle of the night. A drone attack took place, in which at least 12 people lost their lives while three were injured.
According to Daud Khan, an official of the Levies Control Room: “On Tuesday night, it was reported that a drone attack took place in a deserted area called Nikar Bazar, near the Iran border, about 100 km west of Panjgur city, and around 12 people were killed. lost and two vehicles were burnt to ashes.’
Iran’s official news agency IRNA quoted Pakistani news agency Khorasan Diary as saying that border forces of Pakistan and Iran conducted a joint operation against smugglers in Balochistan.
He said that this information was given to the officers of the district administration. However, due to the remote and mountainous area, the authorities prohibited the Levies force from going to the spot at night.
The clash took place shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araqchi’s first two-day visit to Pakistan.
Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch wrote on social media platform X that during his visit, the Iranian Foreign Minister discussed the situation in the Middle East from both sides, as well as bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran.
Iranian news agency IRNA says that Iran’s deputy defense minister and the supervisor of armed forces logistics have arrived in Islamabad to promote cooperation between the two neighboring countries. Brigadier General Syed Hujatullah Qureshi and the accompanying delegation were received by the officials of the Ministry of Defense of Pakistan.
According to Abdul Ghaffar, Head of Panjgur Levies Force, the team of Levies Force left for the scene on Wednesday morning and three injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Panjgur, whose condition is said to be serious.
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He said that one of the injured said in his police statement that we were passengers and dozens of people were going to Iran in a four-by-four vehicle that we were suddenly attacked on the way. A loud explosion followed the fire, but we had no idea what kind of attack it was. All three of us came to the road in an injured state, from where we took a lift and reached the hospital.
Giving further details, Abdul Ghaffar said that ‘where the attack has taken place, it is a desolate and desolate area, there is no network and communication system and there is no trace of the population far away.’
He also said that the Levies Force team that went to the scene from Panjgur on Wednesday morning has not yet returned.
However, it was with great difficulty that a Levies official was contacted, who said that those killed in the drone attack were buried in a mass at the site of the incident as further action, including identification and recovery of their bodies, took place. She was not able.
According to Abdul Ghaffar: ‘The explosion was so intense that the people who were hit by it were burnt on the spot and their identification was not possible and the total number of people who lost their lives could not be known, however, it is estimated that more than 12 people died in this incident. I went to John.’
Injured eyewitnesses said that dozens of people on four vehicles were included in this convoy going to Iran, who belonged to different cities, so they could not identify each other, nor about the number of people. I can tell.’
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#Pakistan #denies #Iranian #drone #strike #soil
iran-pakistan border open today
**Interview on Iran-Pakistan Border Incident**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today. With the recent troubling reports of an alleged drone strike near Panjgur, Pakistan, we have invited an expert on South Asian geopolitics, Dr. Sarah Khan, to shed light on the situation. Dr. Khan, can you briefly summarize the events that transpired on January 16, 2024?
**Dr. Sarah Khan:** Certainly. On that date, reports emerged that an Iranian drone strike had taken place in the Panjgur area of Balochistan, killing 12 people and injuring several others. There was significant confusion, as the Pakistani government denied these claims, reiterating that no such incident had occurred. Pakistani authorities stated that this information was false, which has led to heightened tensions and differing narratives from both sides.
**Interviewer:** The reports from the Levies Force seem to contradict the Pakistani government’s denial. How do you interpret these conflicting accounts?
**Dr. Sarah Khan:** The situation is complex. On the one hand, the Levies Force reported a drone attack while also suggesting that some group, possibly Jaish-ul-Adl, was involved. On the other hand, the Pakistani Foreign Office has publicly rejected these claims. This discrepancy may be indicative of either a communication breakdown between authorities or an attempt to control the narrative amidst potential political sensitivities.
**Interviewer:** How might this incident affect Iran-Pakistan relations, especially given the timing coinciding with the Iranian Foreign Minister’s visit to Pakistan?
**Dr. Sarah Khan:** The timing is indeed significant. The visit was intended to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss regional stability. However, if such incidents occur, they can quickly unravel diplomatic efforts and create mistrust. It’s crucial for both nations to address this incident carefully to avoid escalating tensions further. Cooperation against cross-border terrorism and smuggling has been a common agenda, and incidents like these threaten to undermine those cooperative goals.
**Interviewer:** What steps can both governments take to address the fallout from this incident and prevent future misunderstandings?
**Dr. Sarah Khan:** Transparency and open dialogue will be essential. Both governments need to verify information swiftly and communicate effectively to avoid speculation and misinformation. Joint investigations into such incidents could help clarify the truth and reinforce trust. Moreover, involving independent observers might add an additional layer of accountability and reduce the likelihood of future conflicts.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Khan, for your insights on this critical issue. It seems clear that maintaining a cooperative relationship between Iran and Pakistan is more crucial than ever.
**Dr. Sarah Khan:** Absolutely, and addressing these challenges collaboratively will be pivotal for both nations moving forward. Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us and for your valuable analysis.