Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) announced on Wednesday that Islamabad would expel the Iranian ambassador while recalling its envoy from Tehran. FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch stated, “Pakistan reserves the right to respond to this illegal act, and the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran.”
The FO conveyed its strong condemnation of the “unprovoked and blatant breach” of Pakistan’s sovereignty, labeling it a violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. The statement highlighted that strikes within Pakistani territory resulted in the tragic deaths of two innocent children and injuries to three girls.
In response to the incident, Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran, and the Iranian ambassador currently visiting Iran will not return for the time being. The FO further emphasized that the violation occurred despite existing communication channels between the two countries.
As a demonstration of its protest, Pakistan has suspended all ongoing or planned high-level visits between the two nations in the coming days. The FO underscored the gravity of the situation, deeming the airspace violation “completely unacceptable” and warning of potential serious consequences. Pakistan’s strong protest has been formally lodged with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.
🔴LIVE: Statement by the Spokesperson on Unprovoked Violation of its Air Space https://t.co/2tktEAcdst
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) January 17, 2024