The United States has strongly criticised Iran over the airstrikes it launched on Pakistan. President of the United States (POTUS) Joe Biden commented that the airstrike clashes between Iran & Pakistan have shown that Tehran is not ‘well-liked’.
Iran launched airstrikes on Pakistan as it targeted Panjgur-Balochistan and claimed to target Jaish al Adl. However, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) stated that the attacks killed two children and left three girls injured.
Pakistan issued a strong statement on the airspace violation and called back their ambassador in Iran. On Thursday, Pakistan carried out a retaliatory attack. Pakistan Army launched strikes on terrorists’ hideouts inside Iran with Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar. The FO stated that Pakistan Army successfully struck the hideouts used by terrorist militant organisations Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front in the intelligence-based operation.
After the cross-border clashes, US condemned the actions of Iran. Joe Biden stated that as evident, Iran is not particularly well-liked in the region. National Security Spokesperson White House John Kirby briefed the media that Washington has been closely monitoring the Pak-Iran clashes.
Kirby stated that the US has been in contact with Pakistani counterparts. He added US does not want to witness any escalation in South and Central Asia. He added that attacks on Pakistan reflect Iran’s destabilising behaviour.
The United States has conflicts with Iran as the South-Asian state supported Houthi rebels in Yemen who launched attacks on commercial shipping at the Red Sea.
UN Express Concern
UN chief Antonio Guterres has also expressed concern as Iran and Pakistan exchanged air strikes. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that Secretary-General has shown deep concerns about the recent exchange of military strikes between Iran and Pakistan.
He further said that the UN Secretary-General has urged both states to avoid a further escalation of tensions and exercise maximum restraint.