عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Islamabad Urges Tehran's Cooperation over the Killing of 8 Pakistani Nationals in Southeastern Iran

This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)
TT
20
TT

Islamabad Urges Tehran's Cooperation over the Killing of 8 Pakistani Nationals in Southeastern Iran

This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)

Islamabad has sought Tehran's “full cooperation” over the killing of eight Pakistani nationals in restive southeastern Iran, officials said Monday.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement the killing happened Saturday in Mehrestan County in Sistan and Baluchistan province, about 230 kilometers (142 miles) from the Pakistan-Iran border, urging a thorough investigation, The Associated Press said.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir, wrote on X that the eight were laborers and that Islamabad and Tehran were working on facilitating the repatriation of the bodies.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility.

The Baluch regions across Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced an insurgency by Baluch nationalists seeking independence for more than two decades.

In Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan, the Baloch Liberation Army, designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019, often targets security forces and civilians.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Monday the killings and extended condolences to the Pakistani people and government.

“Iran will spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators and masterminds behind this atrocity and ensuring justice is duly served,” the ministry said in a statement.

Esmail Baqaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the killing “an act of terrorism” and "a criminal act which is fundamentally incompatible with all Islamic principles and legal and humanitarian norms”.

HalVash, an advocacy group for the Baluch people of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, reported that unknown gunmen opened fire on eight Pakistani citizens who ran a family auto repair business in the city. This couldn’t be independently verified.

Most Viewed

 
World

China’s Xi Slams ‘Bullying’ as Beijing Hosts LatAm Leaders 

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his opening speech during the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Beijing, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his opening speech during the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Beijing, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)
TT
20
TT

China’s Xi Slams ‘Bullying’ as Beijing Hosts LatAm Leaders 

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his opening speech during the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Beijing, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers his opening speech during the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Beijing, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday to deepen ties with Latin America and condemned "bullying" in a thinly veiled swipe at the United States, as he addressed regional leaders in Beijing.

Leaders and officials from Latin America and the Caribbean have descended on the Chinese capital for the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

Beijing has stepped up economic and political cooperation with Latin American nations in recent years and has urged a united front against US President Donald Trump's recent maelstrom of tariffs.

Latin America has emerged as a key battleground in Trump's confrontation with China, and the region is coming under pressure from Washington to choose a side.

Addressing leaders on Tuesday, Xi hailed China's burgeoning ties with the region.

"Although China lies far from the Latin American and Caribbean region, the two sides have a time-honored history of friendly exchanges," Xi told the opening ceremony, likening the summit to a "great, sturdy tree".

"Only through unity and cooperation can countries safeguard global peace and stability and promote worldwide development and prosperity," Xi said.

The Chinese leader also pledged $9.2 billion in credit towards "development" for the region -- part of a broad set of initiatives aimed at deepening cooperation, including on infrastructure and clean energy.

Beijing will also work with the region in counterterrorism and fighting transnational organized crime, Xi said, as well as enhancing exchanges such as scholarships and training programs.

Xi's remarks come a day after the United States and China announced a deal to drastically reduce tit-for-tat tariffs for 90 days, an outcome Trump dubbed a "total reset".

Under that agreement, the United States agreed to lower its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent while China will reduce its own to 10 percent.

The deal marked a major de-escalation of a grueling trade war between the world's two largest economies which threw global markets into turmoil.

- Xi warns of 'risks' -

"There are no winners in tariff wars or trade wars," Xi said.

"Bullying and hegemony will only lead to self-isolation," the Chinese leader added.

"The world today is undergoing accelerated transformations unseen in a century, with multiple risks intertwined and overlapping," Xi said.

Among notable attendees at the forum is Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday for a five-day state visit.

Also present is Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who last week said he intends to sign an accord to join Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative during his visit.

Petro called for "dialogue between civilizations" that took into account the interests of the region.

"A horizontal dialogue, rather than a vertical one, can be free of authoritarianism, of imperialism, of the give and take between civilizations," he said.

Two-thirds of Latin American countries have joined Beijing's trillion-dollar BRI infrastructure program, and China has surpassed the US as the biggest trading partner of Brazil, Peru and Chile, among others.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric told the forum that his country would take a "leap forward in economic relations with China".