At least nine killed as Pakistan launches strike into Iran

Carrie Davies

Pakistan correspondent

Pakistan has been careful with its language, talking about targeting militants not Iran itself.

Despite mirroring the language Iran used yesterday to justify why they have carried out these strikes, they haven’t said this is in retaliation.

Instead the Foreign ministry spokesperson has said that the strikes were launched because they had intelligence of an “impending large scale terrorist activities against Pakistan”.

That suggests that despite the strikes, Pakistan are trying not to inflame the situation even further.

The Pakistani army said it remains "in a perpetual state of readiness" after it carried out retaliatory strikes into Iran.

In a statement, the army said its strikes against “hideouts inside Iran used by terrorists" were “effective”.

The statement said they were targeting "terrorist organisations", namely the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front.

It added that the army’s resolve to "ensure that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan against any misadventure, remains unwavering.”

"Going forward, dialogue and cooperation is deemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues between the two neighbouring brotherly countries," the statement said.

Pakistan has launched retaliatory missile strikes into Iran early on Thursday, two days after Iranian attacks on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said a number of people were killed in Sistan-Baluchistan province.

Here is what we know so far:

Aoife Walsh

Live reporter

Hello and welcome to our coverage as at least nine people have been killed after Pakistan launched retaliatory missile strikes into Iran.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said its strikes hit "terrorist hideouts" in Iran's