Iran condemns killing of eight Pakistanis in Sistan-Baluchestan attack
The Iranian embassy in Pakistan on Sunday condemned the killing of eight Pakistani workers in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, describing the attack as 'inhumane and cowardly.'
A spokesman for the banned Balochistan National Army (BNA) claimed responsibility for Saturday's assault, in which gunmen stormed a car repair workshop in Mehrestan city and opened fire after tying up the workers.
'All eight victims were residents of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province,' Iranian officials confirmed.
Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, denounced the killings, calling terrorism a shared threat to regional security.
'Combating this ominous phenomenon requires collective and joint efforts by all countries,' Moghadam said in a statement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep sorrow, calling the attack a brutal act of terrorism.
He urged Tehran to arrest the perpetrators, ensure their swift punishment, and disclose the motive.
The Pakistani government has instructed its embassy in Iran and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist the families and oversee the repatriation of the victims' bodies.
Iranian police said investigations were underway after the assailants fled the scene. Authorities identified five of the victims as Dilshad, his son Muhammad Naeem, Jaffar, Danish and Nasir.
This was the second such attack in Sistan-Baluchestan in recent months. In January 2024, nine Pakistanis were similarly shot dead in the province, following tensions along the Pakistan-Iran border.
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