Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on Iran to arrest those responsible for the killing of eight Pakistani nationals in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, urging regional countries to work together against the growing threat of terrorism.
The tragic incident came to light on Saturday evening when local media reported that several Pakistanis had been shot dead in southeastern Iran. While Pakistan’s foreign ministry initially refrained from commenting, the Foreign Office later confirmed the deaths, stating that Islamabad was in close contact with Iranian authorities and would provide further details once verified.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and demanded that Tehran bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The Iranian government must ensure the culprits are arrested and share the reasons behind this heinous act with the public,” he said.
The premier also emphasized the need for a collective regional effort to combat terrorism, describing it as a “scourge that has devastated the entire region.” He instructed Pakistan’s foreign ministry to stay in touch with the victims’ families and directed the embassy in Tehran to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad strongly condemned the attack, labeling it a “cowardly act” and calling for joint efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism.
“Combating this menace requires collective cooperation among all nations to end the suffering caused by terrorism over the past decades,” the statement said.
According to Afghanistan’s Khaama Press News Agency, the attack occurred early Saturday morning in a village in the Mehrestan district near the Iran-Pakistan border. The victims, reportedly auto mechanics, were targeted while working at a local repair shop.
Later, the separatist Balochistan National Army (BNA) claimed responsibility for the assault, alleging that the victims were associated with Pakistan’s intelligence services. The claim could not be independently verified.
Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, bordering both Iran and Afghanistan, has been the center of a low-level insurgency for nearly two decades. Baloch separatist groups accuse the federal government of exploiting the region’s rich mineral resources—such as gold and copper—without sharing the benefits with locals. Islamabad has consistently rejected these allegations, insisting that it remains committed to the socioeconomic development of Balochistan.
Thousands of Pakistanis, particularly from impoverished areas, regularly travel to Iran in search of informal jobs in sectors like construction, vehicle repair, and agriculture.
This latest attack mirrors a similar tragedy from January last year, when nine Pakistani laborers were killed and three others critically injured in Saravan, another city in Iran’s southeastern border region. The victims in that case were also auto mechanics.
The incident comes at a time when Pakistan and Iran are working to stabilize diplomatic relations following a period of tension marked by cross-border missile and drone strikes in early 2024.