Pakistan hits "terrorists" in Iran responsible for recent attacks: military

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan military said in a statement that the country had carried out effective strikes early Thursday morning against hideouts inside Iran used by "terrorists" responsible for recent attacks in Pakistan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said that the precision strikes were carried out by "using killer drones, rockets, loitering munitions, and stand-off weapons," adding that "maximum care was taken to avoid collateral damage."

The ISPR said that an intelligence-based operation struck the hideouts used by "notorious terrorists of the organizations, namely Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front."

"Pakistan Armed Forces remain in a perpetual state of readiness to ensure the safety of Pakistan citizens against acts of terrorism," said the ISPR, adding that resolve remains unwavering in ensuring that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan is respected and safeguarded against any misadventure.

The military said that dialogue and cooperation are deemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues between the two neighboring brotherly countries.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against "terrorist" hideouts in the Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran.

Pakistan on Wednesday accused Iran of violating Pakistan's airspace and killing two Pakistani children, and recalled its ambassador from Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said late Wednesday that his country pays great attention to neighboring Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity during phone talks with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani.

The two sides discussed Iran's "anti-terrorist" operations on Tuesday against the Jaish al-Zulm group in Pakistan, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website.