Pakistani politicians react to Iran-Pakistan conflict

Islamabad: The former Defense Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Asif said: “We should try to avoid tension and not to worsen relations with Iran”.

Speaking to a private news channel, Khawaja Asif stated that during their tenure they had very good relations with Iran, Pakistan had played an active role in resolving the Saudi Arabia-Iran conflict.

The leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) added that Pakistan and Iran should make a joint strategy to deal with terrorism, Baloch separatist movements are going on in Pakistan and Iran.

Khawaja Asif further said that Pakistan and Iran need to jointly deal with these movements.

While, the leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Sherry Rehman, said that Pakistan has given a thoughtful response to Iran.

Talking about Operation Murgabar Sarmchar, Sherry Rehman stated that such issues have been taking place on Pakistan-Iran border for many years.

Sherry added that it would be better if the two countries do not allow this type of conflict to grow further. Pakistan has old ties with Iran which needs to be improved.

She further said that both Pakistan and Iran should show restraint now, Iran's attack on Pakistani sovereignty was unexpected.

The PPP leader added that if Iran had any concerns, it would have informed Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar reacted on the Iranian attack in Balochistan that such an attack shows the cowardice and isolation of Iran which is already alone in the world and Pakistan helps it.

Talking to a private news channel, Hina Rabbani stated: “This illogical, illegal, irresponsible and provocative attack was carried out due to internal affairs of Iran”.

Responding to Pakistan’s retaliation, she added that Pakistan has given a strong diplomatic response.

The former minister further said that immediate responses are not given in relations between states, Pakistan's response now should be such that no one else think about it in future.

Former Ambassador to Iran Abdul Basit said that Iran showed irresponsibility by attacking Pakistan.

Responding to operation Murgabar Sarmchar, Abdul Basit stated that Pakistan should solve the problem through Iran diplomacy. Since the Iranian attack on Pakistan, there was anger among the people.

Former ambassador Abdul Basit added that Iran challenged Pakistan's sovereignty by attacking.

It is pertinent to note that according to the Foreign Office, Pakistan has targeted specific hideouts of terrorists in Sistan province of Iran today morning.

Pakistan has named this intelligence-based operation as ‘Operation Murgbar, Sarmchar’.

In this context, it has been reported that a number of terrorists have been killed in an intelligence-based Pakistani operation in Sistan.

According to the spokesperson of the Foreign Office Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the so-called Sarmachars have been shedding the blood of innocent Pakistanis due to non-action on serious concerns.

On Monday, Iranian security forces violated Pakistan's airspace and launched missile and drone attacks in Balochistan.

The Iranian state TV Noor News claimed that missiles and drone attacks were carried out by the Iranian security forces on two bases of the Jaish-ul-Adl organization in Pakistan's Balochistan province.