Iran attack targeting Pakistan, 4 killed

International Desk: For the second time this year, the Iranian army has attacked Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan. But it was a gun attack and 4 Pakistanis were killed, 2 others were injured.

This incident happened in Washuk district of Balochistan on Pakistan-Iran border on Tuesday night. There has been no immediate comment from Tehran on the attack, nor has Pakistan's army or border guards taken any counter-attacks in response to the attack.

Washuk Deputy Commissioner of Police Naeem Umrani said that an investigation has been started to find out the exact reason for the attack. Earlier, on January 16, Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Panjgur city in Pakistan's Balochistan bordering Iran-Pakistan.

2 children were killed and 3 others were injured.  Tehran attributed the attack to Iran's banned political group Jaish al-Adl having a base in the city of Panjgur. The attack was targeted at that base.

After that attack, Islamabad launched a counter-missile attack on Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province bordering Pakistan, killing 7 people, including children and women. Islamabad said the attack targeted the bases of Pakistan's banned political groups, the Baloch Liberation Army and the Baloch Liberation Front, in Sistan-Baluchistan province. 

Tensions started between the two neighboring countries due to this rare attack-reciprocal attack. Later, the pressure was relieved at the initiative of the international community. Former Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi went to Pakistan on a three-day state visit last April to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Several diplomatic and commercial agreements were also signed with Pakistan during that visit. The attack came less than a month after Raisi's visit.