Reuters reported that Iranian forces opened fire in Pakistan’s restive southwestern province of Balochistan late on Tuesday, killing four Pakistanis and wounding two.
Deputy Commissioner Umar Jamali confirmed that the shooting took place in the Washuk area near the Pakistan-Iran border.
Wasyuku Deputy Commissioner Naeem Umrani said an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the shooting.
Former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Pakistan on a three-day official visit in April in what was seen as a key step toward normalizing ties with Islamabad as the two Muslim neighbors seek to repair ties after an unprecedented exchange of military attacks this year.
Iran and Pakistan have always had an uneasy relationship, but the January missile attack was the most serious in recent years, leading Pakistan to recall its ambassador to Tehran, not allow him to return to Islamabad, and halt all high-level diplomatic and trade talks.
Rapid efforts to de-escalate tensions have since led to the two countries affirming their commitment to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, pledging to expand security cooperation, and requesting that the special envoy return to his duties.
Islamabad said it struck bases of the separatist groups Balochistan Liberation Front and Balochistan Liberation Army, while Tehran said it struck fighters from the Jaish-ul-Adl (JAA) group.
Militant groups are active in areas including Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan and Sistan-Baluchistan province in southeastern Iran, both volatile, mineral-rich and largely untapped regions.
(Reported by Reuters)
