Iran Condemns Killing of Eight Pakistani Nationals in Sistan-Baluchestan
The Iranian embassy in Pakistan has strongly denounced the tragic killing of eight Pakistani citizens in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, labelling the attack as both “inhumane and cowardly.”
According to Iranian officials, all eight victims hailed from Bahawalpur in southern Punjab. They were reportedly staying at a local auto repair workshop when the attack occurred.
Responsibility for the assault was claimed by the banned Balochistan National Army (BNA) through a statement circulated in the media.
In an official statement, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, condemned the brutal act, referring to it as an “armed and cowardly” attack on innocent Pakistani nationals.
“Terrorism remains a persistent and shared threat across the region,” Moghadam stated, emphasizing that these violent acts are carried out by rogue elements often working in coordination with international terror networks to destabilize regional peace.
He further stressed that a unified and collaborative regional approach is essential to combat terrorism and extremism, which have claimed countless lives over the years.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the killings, calling them a “heinous and brutal act,” according to Radio Pakistan.
“Terrorism poses a serious threat to all countries in the region,” the Prime Minister stated. He urged the Iranian authorities to swiftly apprehend those responsible, deliver them justice, and provide clarity on the motives behind this horrific act.
PM Shehbaz also directed Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry to engage with the victims’ families and coordinate with the embassy in Iran to ensure the timely repatriation of the bodies.
Reports suggest that unidentified gunmen entered the workshop at night, tied the victims’ hands and feet, and then opened fire before fleeing the scene. Iranian law enforcement responded promptly, recovered the bodies, and transported them to a hospital.
Among the victims identified so far are Dilshad, his son Muhammad Naeem, Jaffar, Danish, and Nasir. Iranian police have launched a thorough investigation into the incident.
This marks the second such incident in the province in recent months. On January 27, 2024, nine Pakistani laborers from Punjab were similarly targeted and killed in Sistan-Baluchestan by unidentified attackers.
That attack occurred shortly after tensions escalated between Iran and Pakistan, following cross-border operations by both nations in response to militant threats.
The broader Balochistan region, which borders Sistan-Baluchestan, has seen a series of violent attacks primarily targeting individuals from Punjab.
In March, five passengers were shot dead in Gwadar’s Kalmat area, while just days earlier, four Punjabi laborers were killed in Kalat district. In February, seven passengers traveling to Punjab were forced off a bus and executed in Barkhan.
In another gruesome episode in August of the previous year, militants linked to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army killed 23 travelers in Musakhail after pulling them from buses and trucks.
Additionally, in April 2024, nine individuals were murdered after being forced off a bus near Noshki, while two Punjabi workers were gunned down in Kech. A month later, seven barbers from Punjab were executed near Gwadar.
