Pakistan to kick off second phase of Hajj trainings for pilgrims in Sindh from Apr. 8

ISLAMABAD: The Iranian embassy in Pakistan on Sunday condemned a “cowardly” attack that claimed the lives of eight Pakistanis in the Sistan-Baluchestan province a day earlier, calling for joint efforts to eradicate “terrorism” from the region. 

Pakistan confirmed late Saturday night the killings of eight of its nationals in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province. Afghanistan’s Khaama Press News Agency reported the attack took place in the early hours of Saturday in a village in Mehrestan district, located near the Iran-Pakistan border. The outlet said the victims were auto mechanics.

The separatist Balochistan National Army (BNA) claimed responsibility for the attack later in the day, alleging that the slain workers were members of Pakistan’s premier spy agency.

“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the inhumane and cowardly armed incident against 8 Pakistani nationals in Iran’s Sistan and Balouchestan province,” the statement said. 

“Combating this ominous phenomenon requires collective and joint efforts by all countries to eradicate all forms of terrorism and extremism that have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people in recent decades,” it added. 

The Iranian embassy described “terrorism” as a chronic plight and a common threat throughout the region. It added that through it, “traitorous elements, in collaboration with international terrorism” target security and stability throughout the region.

In a statement released from his office on Saturday night, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for all regional countries to come together to devise and enforce a coordinated counterterrorism strategy to eliminate militant violence.

“The Iranian government must bring those responsible to justice and share the reasons behind this heinous act with the public,” Sharif said. 

Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has faced a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. Baloch separatist groups, such as the BNA and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) accuse the central government of exploiting the region’s natural resources, such as gold and copper, without benefiting the local population.

Islamabad denies the allegations, saying it is committed to improving the lives of Baloch residents through various development projects.

Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly from economically disadvantaged regions, frequently cross into Iran to take up informal work in sectors such as vehicle repair, construction, and agriculture.

In January last year, nine Pakistani laborers were killed and three critically injured in a similar attack in Saravan city, also located in Iran’s southeastern border region.

The victims in that case had also been working at an auto repair shop.

Last year’s killings took place at a time when Pakistan and Iran were trying to mend diplomatic ties following tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes.

Both neighbors share a troubled, porous border and routinely blame each other for not rooting out militancy from the area. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal this week called for establishing a new equilibrium in ties with the United States (US) based on mutual trust, ground realities and development, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. 

Ties between Islamabad and Washington, once close allies during the Cold War era and after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, have remained strained in recent years. American officials suspected Pakistan supported the Afghan Taliban in regaining Kabul in August 2021 after 20 years of war, damaging ties with Islamabad. Pakistan denies the allegations strongly. 

The latest statement came from Iqbal while he met a US congressional delegation led by Jack Bergman, US representative from Michigan’s first congressional district, along with other representatives Thomas Richard Suozzi, Jonathan L. Jackson and other senior US officials in Islamabad. 

“In the realities of new geopolitics, there is a need to establish a new equilibrium in Pak-US relations based on ground realities, mutual trust and development-focused partnership,” APP reported Iqbal as saying on Saturday. 

The state media said that the meeting between the two sides focused on strengthening Pakistan-US bilateral relations, particularly in the realm of development cooperation and future collaboration across various sectors. 

“Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the need to have an understanding of Pakistan’s socio-economic challenges in the aftermaths of the two US-led wars in the region,” the APP said. 

Citing his own academic experience in the US, Iqbal acknowledged the transformative impact of American higher education in shaping global leaders and innovators.

The minister called for the establishment of campuses of top-tier American universities in Pakistan, assuring his government would fully facilitate the move. 

The American delegation thanked Iqbal for the warm welcome accorded to them, the APP said, adding that they acknowledged Pakistan’s “immense potential” across various sectors and stressed the need to engage the private sector to unlock investment opportunities and build investor confidence.

“The delegation reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic relationship between the two countries and enhancing collaboration in key areas,” the APP said. 

Pakistan and Washington have recently moved closer after Islamabad aided Washington in apprehending a highly wanted Daesh operative last month. Both countries have since spoken regularly about the need to collaborate in counter-terrorism operations.