US says it does not want to see violence between Iran, Pakistan escalate

WASHINGTON

The US said Thursday it does not want to see ongoing violence between Iran and Pakistan escalate after the countries engaged in a series of attacks on each other's territory.

"We're monitoring this very, very closely. We don't want to see an escalation clearly in South and Central Asia. And we're in touch with our Pakistani counterparts as you would expect," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One.

"These are two well-armed nations and, again, we don't want to see an escalation of any armed conflict in the region, certainly between those two countries," he added.

Pakistan said Thursday it launched precision strikes against separatists in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, two days after Tehran struck what it described as bases for the Jaish al-Adl militant group in the border town of Panjgur in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

Islamabad had earlier recalled its ambassador and suspended high-level visits with Tehran after the attacks by Iran on Tuesday.

Pakistan said its attacks inside Iran are “a manifestation of Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats.”

“The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest which is paramount and cannot be compromised,” said Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. “Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

At a news conference in Islamabad, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan has “no interest in escalating any situation.”

Tehran confirmed the attack, lodged a protest and sought an "immediate explanation" from Islamabad. China has offered to serve as an intermediary to help de-escalate tensions between the neighbors.

Commenting on the ongoing instability, US President Joe Biden said the US is seeking to determine what the next steps in the nascent conflict will be.

"Iran is not particularly well-liked in the region. Where it goes? We're working on that. I don't know," he said.