Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied reports from Iranian media claiming that the security forces of Pakistan and Iran had jointly carried out an operation against smugglers in Balochistan.
During a press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch dismissed the claim as “baseless.” She said, “There was no joint operation between Pakistan and Iran in Balochistan.” However, she confirmed that Pakistani forces had conducted an operation against alleged smugglers in the Panjgur district of Balochistan, which extended 30 kilometers inside the region, but emphasized that it was a unilateral action by Pakistani forces and not a joint operation with Iran.
The spokesperson further stated that reports circulating on social media regarding a joint operation were being spread by “terrorists” with the intent to disseminate false information.
Meanwhile, several Twitter accounts linked to intelligence sources claimed that Pakistan and Iran had carried out airstrikes together against militants. A local Levies official told the media that the operation had occurred within Pakistani territory and included a drone strike.
The Iranian opposition militant group, Jaish al-Adl, confirmed the attack, claiming that 12 of their fighters, including two senior commanders, were killed in the strike. The group also accused Pakistan and Iran of carrying out the operation together.