Pakistan has remembered some of his diplomats, non-essential staff and their families from Tehran because of the escalating Israel-IRan conflict and the changed regional situation.
According to a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the move was asked for the ongoing war and increased tensions in the region. However, the official clarified that the Pakistani Embassy and the Consulate in Tehran will continue their operations.
The official also confirmed that the employees identified as non-essential have been asked to return to Pakistan with their families. Events have been made to facilitate the staff’s safe return.
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Previously, a total of 78 Pakistanis, including 47 students, returned to Pakistan through the Taftan border on Tuesday and raised the total number of repatriated citizens to 1,200. The Pakistani citizens who mostly consist of pilgrims were stranded in Iran because of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
According to Express News, 987 pilgrims and students over the past two days have surely been brought back. The returns have traveled on 37 buses, with many more expected to return soon.
On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in close coordination with Iraqi Airways successfully relieved the repatriation of 268 Pakistani nationals through two special flights from Basra to Karachi and Islamabad. Both aircraft have probably arrived in Pakistan.
Iran-Israel conflict
Regional tensions have escalated since last week when Israel launched coordinated air strikes in several places in Iran on June 13, including military and nuclear facilities, causing Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks.
Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” with a surprise attack on Friday and targeted Iranian military leadership, nuclear facilities and ballistic missile production sites.
The operation resulted in deaths of dozens, including the supreme Iranian commanders and nuclear researchers. Israeli officials said the campaign would be intensified in the coming days.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to continue to beat “any goal of the regime”, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that further attacks would trigger “a more serious and strong reaction.”
In contrast, Iran launched waves of drones and missiles at Israeli targets over the weekend and hit both military bases and civil infrastructure.
Israeli authorities said at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in Iranian missile attacks since Friday, according to the Anadolu Agency. Iran, for his part, said at least 224 people were killed and over 1,000 others wounded in Israeli assault.
