Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Thursday urging Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan to exercise restraint and employ common sense in light of escalating tensions in the region. The call for moderation followed recent events, including Pakistan’s military strikes inside Iran, which came in response to Iran violating Pakistan’s airspace.
The ministry emphasized the need for resolving issues through a spirit of friendship and brotherhood, emphasizing mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country involved. The statement was prompted by Pakistan’s targeted strikes on terrorist hideouts in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, conducted under the operation name ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar,’ two days after Iran’s airspace violation.
Pakistan’s military media affairs wing reported that the strikes specifically targeted hideouts used by terrorist organizations, namely the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). The precision military operation utilized killer drones, rockets, loitering munitions, and stand-off weapons, with measures taken to minimize collateral damage, according to the Inter Services Public Relations.
In response to the strikes, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported nine casualties in a village in the city of Saravan. Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated that all the deceased individuals were foreign nationals. The escalating tensions have also impacted financial markets, with shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange experiencing a loss of over 350 points amid the Pakistan-Iran conflict. Additionally, Pakistan expelled the Iranian ambassador in response to the airspace violation.
