Reports indicate that Pakistan has launched actions against groups described by Islamabad as anti-Pakistan elements operating from Iran. The information came through RIA News and was echoed by officials in the Sistan and Baluchistan region, where there were accounts of explosions across multiple areas of the Seravan zone near the Pakistan border. The incidents appear to mark a widening of security operations along the frontier and have prompted official statements from both sides about cross-border concerns and the status of regional stability. [RIA News]
On January 16, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly conducted a ballistic missile and drone strike against a base associated with the Jaish al-Adl group in Iran’s Balochistan province. This event is described as Iran’s first missile strike on Pakistani soil, signaling a notable escalation in regional security dynamics and drawing attention to the wider confrontation with armed groups operating in border areas. [IRGC statement / regional observers]
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has commented on the claims, arguing that the Iranian military is targeting terrorists on Pakistani territory. The remarks reflect Tehran’s position that cross-border counterterrorism operations are directed at groups threatening Iran and its neighbors. [Foreign Ministry remarks]
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Iran’s actions, stating that the attacks constitute incursions into Pakistani territory. In the wake of the developments, Pakistan reportedly recalled its ambassador from Iran, signaling serious diplomatic friction and concerns about border security and sovereignty. [Pakistan Foreign Ministry briefing]
Meanwhile, the United States has raised related concerns, accusing Iran of supporting or enabling attacks by the Houthis against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a development that adds to the broader regional security tensions and the complexity of maritime security in the area. [U.S. statements / regional intelligence updates]