'Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar': Pakistan Attacks Militant Hideouts In Iran Day After Attack

Pakistan retaliated to the Iranian missile and drone attacks by launching strikes on militant targets within Iranian territory.

Pakistan carries out strike on militant targets in Iran/Representational Image

Source : Getty Images

Pakistan on Thursday said it carried out "highly coordinated and specifically precision military strikes" against terrorists hideouts in Iran, a day after Tehran launched deadly missile and drone attacks in Balochistan. 

It codenamed the operation as "Marg Bar Sarmachar". 

In a statement released on Thursday by Pakistan Minsitry of Foreign Affairs, it said: "Over the last several years, in our engagements with Iran, Pakistan has consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani origin terrorists calling themselves *Sarmachars* on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran." 

"Pakistan also shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence of the presence and activities of these terrorists.

"However, because of lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning's action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large scale terrorist activities by these so called Sarmachars," it added.

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Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar

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— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) January 18, 2024

Later in the day, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar has cut short his visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum. 

"The sole objective of today's Act was in pursuit of Pakistan's own security and national interest. The Prime Minister of Pakistan who is currently in Davos to attend the 54th annual meeting of World Economic Forum has decided to cut short his visit in view of the ongoing development," Baloch said. 

On Wednesday, Iran admitted that it carried out strikes in western Pakistan a day earlier that killed two children and left three injured, reported BBC.

On Tuesday, Iran claimed to have targeted two bases belonging to the Jaish al-Adl militant group in Pakistan potentially raising tensions in a Middle East already roiled by Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 

Iran launched the attack a day after it carried out similar strikes in Iraq and Syria. 

Following the attack, Pakistan issued a strongly worded condemnation of "violation of its airspace". It also warned the neighbouring country that such actions can have "serious consequences".

Islamabad also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey its "strongest condemnation of this blatant violation" of its sovereignty, according to a PTI report. 

Spokesperson for Foreign Office in Pakistan, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan reserved the right to retaliate against the attack, which she described as an “illegal act” and without any justification, as per a Dawn report. 

“Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being,” she said.

Jaish al-Adl is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012 which largely operates in Pakistan. Iran has fought against the militant group in border areas but a missile-and-drone attack on Pakistan would be unprecedented for Iran.