Iran holds diplomatic meet with Pakistan in Davos Following strikes on Balochistan

Iran on January 16 carried out attacks on two bases belonging to the Jaish ul-Adl terror group in Pakistan's Balochistan province. This strike coincided with a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"The minister conveyed to the Pakistani prime minister the greetings of our country's president and described the relations between the two countries as deep and historic, stressing Tehran's readiness to expand them as much as possible," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

During the meeting, in particular, they discussed the need to establish direct flights between Tehran and Islamabad, as well as other issues of bilateral relations. It is not specified whether the officials touched upon the topic of Iran's strikes on Pakistan.

On January 16, the Iranian state-run Mehr news agency reported that the Jaish ul-Adl's bases targeted in the Kuhe Sabz area were one of the largest bases of the terror group.

"These bases were hit and destroyed by missiles and drones," Iranian state media said, according to India Today.

In a statement issued in the early hours of January 17, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Islamabad "strongly condemned" what it called an "unprovoked violation" of its airspace.

While condemning the attack by Iran, Pakistan's official statement further read, "It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran."

It added: "Pakistan has always said terrorism is a common threat to all countries in the region that requires coordinated action. Such unilateral acts are not in conformity with good neighbourly relations and can seriously undermine bilateral trust and confidence."

Pakistan said the strikes killed two "innocent" children and injured three girls and added that the incident was "completely unacceptable" and could have "serious consequences."

Jaish ul-Adl, or the “Army of Justice,” is a Sunni militant group founded in 2012, which largely operates across the border in Pakistan.

The attack also follows Iranian strikes on Iraq and Syria less than a day earlier, as Tehran lashed out following a dual suicide bombing this month claimed by the Sunni militant group Islamic State that killed over 90 people.