Iran and Pakistan have accused each other of harbouring terrorists. 

Fighter jets from the Pakistan Air Force undertook a series of coordinated and targeted strikes using extended-range munitions against seven terrorist hideouts in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of Iran.

Follow live: US hits more Houthi targets – Pakistan explains Iran strikes

In a statement, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it had “credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities in the ungoverned spaces of southern Iran.

“These targets were 80km inside Iranian territory where several terrorists were killed.”

Thursday’s attack comes after Iran used missiles and drones on Tuesday to hit what they claim were terrorists in the Sabz Koh village, around 45 km from the Pakistan-Iran border.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said: “We only targeted Iranian terrorists on the soil of Pakistan, and no Pakistani citizens had been targeted, only members of Jaish al Adl.”

Iran-Pakistan: At least ‘nine killed’ in Pakistani airstrikes on Iranian territory

Pakistan says ‘innocent children’ killed in ‘completely unacceptable’ Iranian strikes on its territory

Is Iran the world’s biggest threat?

He said he had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart and “assured him that we do respect [the] sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan and Iraq”.

Tehran says it has gone after the Sunni militant organisation Jaish al Adl which has found a safe haven in Baluchistan.

Jaish al Adl is a Sunni militant group operating mainly in southeast Iran.

It has been fighting for independence for Iran’s Sistan and Pakistan’s Baluchistan province and greater rights of the Baluch people on either side of the border.

Since 2012, it has been operating on the porous border attacking Iranian security personnel and military installations.

The group has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Tehran and Washington.

Both countries have accused each other of providing safe havens and turning a blind eye to attacks by militants.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

Over the years, the group has intensified its attack on Iranian personnel and positions. Its members are said to have close association with Kurdish separatists in Iran.

Iran has accused Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the US of backing the group.

For the first time in many years, militaries of the two countries have attacked each other deep in their territories.

This has jeopardised relations between Iran and Pakistan, which share a 900km border.

Read more:
US attacks 14 Houthi missile sites
Iran says attacks on Yemen ‘clear violation of sovereignty’
Will Israel-Hezbollah tensions cause wider conflict?

Islamabad has recalled its ambassador from Tehran and has asked the Iranian ambassador, who was visiting his country, not to return.

Pakistan is a nuclear-armed country that will go to the polls on 8 February. It has been politically unstable for some time and currently has a caretaker government.

If not contained diplomatically, this exchange of attacks has the potential to escalate into a larger conflict in this volatile region.

Related posts:

‘It’s worse than we could imagine’: Afghan judges fear for their lives – as UK urged to protect them ‘Devastated’: Pubs in Dublin call last orders at 8pm in ‘another blow’ to hospitality sector Thailand first Asian country to move to decriminalise marijuana – giving people green light to grow it at home Search for 39 people missing off Florida coast Jerusalem braced for further violence as flashpoints threaten unrest Israel’s fury at Sergei Lavrov’s claim that Hitler was part Jewish Germany ‘not against’ ban on Russian oil – as EU considers the move in latest sanctions ‘Gas might be expensive, but freedom is priceless’: Estonian PM urges West to hold firm over Ukraine Abramovich’s $410m jets targeted by US seizure warrants Jamaica’s divided over the monarchy, but the Queen’s death may hasten it becoming a republic Seoul motorway tunnel crash and fire leaves five dead and 37 injured Papuan fighters threaten to shoot NZ pilot hostage without independence talks