Gunmen tied up and executed eight Pakistani workers from Punjab in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has demanded swift justice, while Iran has pledged a strong crackdown on terrorism.
ISLAMABAD — The Iranian Embassy in Pakistan has strongly condemned the brutal killing of eight Pakistani nationals in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, calling the attack “inhumane and cowardly” and vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The deadly assault occurred on Saturday in the city of Mehrestan, where gunmen stormed a car repair workshop, tied up the workers, and opened fire, killing all eight on the spot. A spokesperson for the banned Balochistan National Army (BNA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
“All eight victims were residents of Bahawalpur in Pakistan’s Punjab province,” Iranian officials confirmed. Among the victims were a father and son—Dilshad and Muhammad Naeem—along with men identified as Jaffar, Danish, and Nasir. Iranian authorities say investigations are ongoing, and the attackers fled the scene before police arrived.
Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to restore relations under mediation of China
In a formal statement, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Islamabad said:
“Terrorism is a chronic plight and a common threat throughout the region by which the traitorous elements, in collaboration with international terrorism, target security and stability throughout the region.”
Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, emphasized that combating terrorism “requires collective and joint efforts by all countries to eradicate all forms of extremism that have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “deep sorrow” over the incident, labeling it “a brutal act of terrorism.” He urged Iranian authorities to swiftly arrest and punish those responsible and called for a transparent investigation into the motive behind the attack.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassy in Tehran have been instructed to assist the victims’ families and coordinate the repatriation of the bodies.
China Reaffirms Support for Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Efforts
The tragic attack is the second such killing of Pakistani citizens in Sistan-Baluchestan in recent months. In January 2024, nine Pakistanis were gunned down in a similar incident, adding to the growing concern over the safety of migrant workers in the border region.
Both Iran and Pakistan have pledged to work together to eliminate terrorism along their shared border.
