
Pakistan shuts border with Iran as Tehran trades strikes with Israel
"Border facilities in all five districts -- Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech and Gwadar -- have been suspended," Qadir Bakhsh Pirkani, a senior official in Balochistan province, which borders Iran, told AFP.
Crossing into Iran "has been suspended until further notice", said Atta ul Munim, an official at one of the crossings in Chaghi district.
However, there was "no ban on trade" activities at the border and Pakistani nationals needing to return to their the country from Iran can cross, he added.
"We're expecting around 200 Pakistani students coming today," Atta said.
On Sunday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said 450 Pakistani pilgrims were evacuated from Iran, with more to follow, as well as from Iraq -- the two countries hosting the holiest sites in Shiite Islam.
Pakistan, the only Muslim-majority country with nuclear weapons, said on Friday it "stands in solidarity with the Government and the people of Iran" against strikes by Israel, which both Islamabad and Tehran do not recognise.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday warned that the world "should be wary and apprehensive about Israel's nuclear prowess" and accused it of lacking "any international nuclear discipline".
Israel is the Middle East's only nuclear power, although undeclared.
Media reports have said Pakistan may support Tehran if the conflict was to widen, but officials in Islamabad have reiterated that their country is only showing "moral and diplomatic solidarity".
Predominantly Sunni Pakistan shares a more than 900-kilometre (560-mile) border with Shiite-majority Iran.
The relationship between the two neighbours has been complex, with Pakistan often wary of US-led sanctions on Tehran and also mindful of its ties with Riyadh, which has repeatedly helped rescue its economy by rolling over overdue debts.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at around $3 billion, and officials have vowed to boost it to $10 billion in the coming years.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
PM Modi's 'friendship' with President Trump proving to be hollow: Congress
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "much boasted friendship" with US President Donald Trump is now proving to be "hollow" and cited several overtures the latter recently made to Pakistan. In a post on X, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh also alleged that Indian diplomacy was failing in the light of the US partnering with Pakistan. "The abject failure of Indian diplomacy, especially in the past two months, is revealed most tellingly by four facts. These expose the tall claims made by the Prime Minister and his drum-beaters and cheerleaders," he said in his post. Ramesh said that since May 10, 2025, Trump has claimed 25 times that "he personally intervened to stop Operation Sindoor, threatening India and Pakistan that if they didn't bring the war to a halt, they would not have a trade agreement with the USA." On June 10, 2025, he claimed, Gen Michael Kurilla, the head of the US Central Command, hailed Pakistan as a phenomenal partner of the US in countering terrorism. On June 18, 2025, Trump held an unprecedented luncheon meeting with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in the White House, Ramesh noted. "Two months earlier, Munir's inflammatory, incendiary, and communally provocative remarks had provided the backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks on April 22, 2025," he said. Just yesterday, the Congress leader claimed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and thanked Pakistan for its partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability. "The PM's clean chit to China on June 19, 2020, has already cost India heavily. His much boasted friendship with President Trump is now proving to be hollow," Ramesh said in his post.


Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Operation Sindoor strikes sent clear message to Pakistan: Army chief Upendra Dwivedi
Indian army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said that the surgical strikes carried out during Operation Sindoor were a clear message to Pakistan that supporters of terrorism will not be spared. 'Operation Sindoor was a message to Pakistan as well as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which was a deep wound for the entire nation. This time India did not only mourn but showed that the response will be decisive,' Gen Dwivedi said at the Kargil War Memorial here. Addressing a gathering on Vijay Diwas, the chief of army staff said a stern response to the adversary was the new normal established by India. 'The faith shown by the countrymen and the free hand given by the government, the Indian Army gave a befitting surgical response. Any power that tries to challenge the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of India or harm the people will be given a befitting reply. This is the new normal of India,' he said. Gen Dwivedi said that during Operation Sindoor, the army eliminated nine high-value terrorist targets in Pakistan with zero collateral damage. 'India attained a decisive victory by effective targeting of terror infrastructure in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The army targeted the terrorist infrastructure and foiled the other aggressive moves of Pakistan to attain a decisive victory,' he said. Dwivedi said Indian gave peace a chance, but Pakistan resorted to cowardice. 'The Pakistani action on May 8 and 9 was responded to effectively. Our army air defence stood like an impregnable wall which could not be breached by any missile or drones,' he said. He said the Indian Army is on its way to becoming a force to reckon with in the world. 'Rudra, all of brigade, is being established for which I gave an approval yesterday. Under this, we will have infantry, mechanised infantry, armoured units, artillery, special forces and unmanned aerial units at one place to provide logistics and combat support,' he said. The army has formed a special strike force Bhairav Light Commando Unit, which is 'always ready to surprise the enemy at the border.' Dwivedi said, 'Every infantry battalion now has a drone platoon. In the artillery, the Shaktiban regiment has been set up, which will be equipped with a drone, counter-drone, and loiter munition. Every regiment will have a composite battery equipped with these things.' The army chief said our capability will increase manifold in coming days as we are equipping the army air defence systems with indigenous missiles. Recalling the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the silver jubilee celebrations last year, the military chief said the presence of top leaders shows that it is not only an army day but a festival for the entire nation. 'The nation is safe due to the sacrifices made by the heroes at the icy heights. We remember their dedication and determination, and we bow to the brave heroes who laid down their lives so that we can live a peaceful life with dignity,' he added.


News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
From Kargil War To Op Sindoor: How India's Military Doctrine Has Transformed Over 26 Years
Last Updated: Operation Sindoor represents not just tactical success but the strategic coming of age of Indian statecraft and military science—an evolution born out of lessons learnt at Kargil Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, marks a watershed in India's military doctrine—setting a bold contrast against the Kargil War of 1999, even as it highlights the stark consistency in Pakistan's proxy warfare tactics over the last 26 years. During the Kargil War, Pakistani military units, masquerading as 'Mujahideen', infiltrated Indian territory in the harsh Himalayan heights. The incursion was initially denied by Pakistan, which falsely presented the conflict as an indigenous uprising. Only after significant losses and mounting international pressure did Pakistan reluctantly acknowledge its soldiers' presence, even refusing initially to repatriate its dead—acts that laid bare its strategy of denial and duplicity. The war itself saw fierce, protracted battles to reclaim lost ground, with India heavily reliant on foreign-supplied weapons such as Bofors artillery and MiG fighters. It took nearly three months of attrition, tremendous sacrifice, and international intervention to bring that chapter to a close. Fast forward to 2025, and the hallmarks of Pakistan's belligerence remain: use of 'non-state" actors as a smokescreen for state-backed attacks, prompt denial of direct involvement, and the deliberate muddying of fact in the aftermath of cross-border operations. The attack in Pahalgam, attributed initially to the Terrorist Resistance Front—a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy—was only the latest instance of this old playbook being put into action. Pakistan's political-military establishment, with General Munir at the helm now as Musharraf was then, allowed or directed these manoeuvres, often keeping civilian leadership in the dark or at best at arm's length. Yet, what has transformed dramatically since Kargil is India's approach—rooted in indigenous strength and technological sophistication. Operation Sindoor was conceived and executed as a limited but decisive offensive, emphasising rapid, high-precision strikes deep into enemy territory. Within 23 minutes, India's armed forces struck nine terror hubs—four deep in Pakistan's Punjab, an assault reach not witnessed since 1971—with loitering munitions, BrahMos missiles, and electronic warfare assets rendering Pakistan's air defences impotent. The integration of real-time surveillance, domestically-developed guided munitions, and instant post-strike damage assessments showcased an Indian military that is no longer dependent on imported tools. The symbolism of this shift cannot be overstated. India's ability to penetrate deep, calibrated by political restraint but technological confidence, signals a new era where the fog of proxy war is lifted and accountability is enforced with precision. The response now is not limited to recapturing peaks but extends to redefining the deterrence paradigm—targeting not just the proxy but its patron, on their soil, using indigenous weaponry and homegrown innovation. Through two-and-a-half decades, Pakistan's policy—fomenting terror under the guise of plausible deniability—remains frozen in time. What has changed utterly is India's readiness and capability to respond: more agile, far less constrained by diplomatic calculus, and fuelled not by foreign dependence but proud self-reliance. Operation Sindoor thus represents not just tactical success but the strategic coming of age of Indian statecraft and military science—an evolution born out of lessons learnt at Kargil, now brought to fruition on its own terms. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.