QUETTA: A Pakistani man was killed when a mortar shell fired by Iranian security forces from across the border hit his vehicle in a border village in Panjgur district on Saturday.

Confirming the incident, official sources said that two mortar shells were fired from across the border. One of them hit the moving vehicle and the other landed in an open area. They said the incident took place in Nukkar village, close to the Pak-Iran border.

The victim was identified as Karim Jan who hailed from Balochistan’s Washuk district. He received multiple wounds and died on the spot. The vehicle was badly damaged by the hit.

Panjgur Deputy Commis­sioner Abdul Jabbar Baloch told Dawn that the district administration had strongly protested with Iranian authorities over firing of rockets and mortar shells by their border forces.

“We have convened a flag meeting with Iranian autho­rities on Sunday to lodge protest over the recent incident,” he added.

Relations between Iran and Pakistan have been at a low ebb since 10 Iranian border guards were killed by militants last month. Iran alleged that the Jaish al Adl militant group had opened fire from inside Pakistan.

Earlier, an Iranian official warned Islamabad that Teh­ran would hit “bases” inside Pakistan if the government did not confront militants who carry out attacks.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2017