Pak decides to recall its envoy from Iran & Iranian ambassador to Pak, who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being: FO

ISLAMABAD, Jan 17 (SABAH): Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch says we have informed Iran that Pakistan has decided to recall its envoy from Iran and the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being.

In a video statement issued on twitter on Wednesday, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said “Last night’s unprovoked and blatant breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty by Iran is a violation of international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations”.

She said that this illegal act is completely unacceptable and has no justification whatsoever, adding that Pakistan reserves the right to respond to the illegal act and the responsibility to the consequences will lies squarely with Iran and we have conveyed this message to the government to Iran. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that said that we have also decided to suspend all the high level visits which were ongoing or were planned between Pakistan and Iran in the coming days.

Meanwhile earlier in a written statement issued by Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which resulted in death of two innocent children while injuring three girls. This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that it is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan’s strong protest has already been lodged with the concerned senior official in the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran. Additionally, the Iranian Charge d’affaires has been called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey our strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and that the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence.