Iranian mortar attack kills Pakistani

Flag staff meeting likely today

QUETTA: Iranian mortar fire on Saturday killed a Pakistani civilian in the western Balochistan province that shares a long border with Iran, a regional Pakistani official said.

In the wake of the mortar attack, a flag staff meeting has been convened for today (Monday) to take up the issue.Relations between Iran and Pakistan have been at low ebb since 10 Iranian border guards were killed by militants last month.

Iran said that, in that incident, Jaish al-Adl, a militant group, had opened fire from inside Pakistan. 

Earlier this month, the head of the Iranian armed forces warned Islamabad that Tehran would hit bases inside Pakistan if the government did not confront the militants who carry out cross-border attacks.

Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Commissioner of the Panjgur district in Balochistan, said Iranian border security forces had fired "many" mortar shells and rockets over the last two days. "A Pakistani man was killed when a mortar shell hit his pick-up while passing through the area," said Jabbar.

He added that Pakistani officials had lodged a protest with Iranian authorities and asked for a meeting on Sunday. Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.