Retaliating Tehran's missile attack, Pakistan strikes on 'militant targets' in Iran; 9 killed

"A number of terrorists" were killed during the intelligence-based operation codenamed 'Marg Bar Sarmachar', Pakistan's Foreign Ministry told the media.

Iranian media reported that nine people including four children were killed in the attack.

The retaliatory strikes came days after Iran attacked "terrorist targets" in Pakistan's Balochistan, an attack that Islamabad claimed killed two children.

"This morning Pakistan undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in an official statement.

Calling Iran a "brotherly country", Pakistan said that the action was 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," the Ministry said, adding that Islamabad "fully respects" the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran.

"Over the last several years, in our engagements with Iran, Pakistan has consistently shared its serious concerns about the safe havens and sanctuaries enjoyed by Pakistani origin terrorists calling themselves 'Sarmachars' on the ungoverned spaces inside Iran," the statement read.

Pakistan also said that it shared multiple dossiers with concrete evidence about the presence and activities of these terrorists.

"However, because of lack of action on our serious concerns, these so-called Sarmachars continued to spill the blood of innocent Pakistanis with impunity. This morning's action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large scale terrorist activities by these so-called Sarmachars," the statement said.

Iran's missile attack:

Iran on Tuesday claimed it conducted missile and drone attacks that destroyed two strongholds of the Sunni Balochi terror group Jaish al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan.

"Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jeysh al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan have been obliterated through precision missile and drone strikes," reported Iran's Tasnim News Agency.

Irani's action was in response to the terror group's alleged attack at a police station in Sistan and Balouchestan province’s city of Rask, southeast of Iran, which resulted in the death of 11 Iranian Police forces.

Pakistan Wednesday expelled Iran's ambassador and recalled its envoy from Tehran.

"Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and that the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan who is currently visiting Iran may not return for the time being," Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while addressing a press briefing in Islamabad as quoted by Geo News.

It also condemned Iran for violating the Islamic country's sovereignty and claimed two children were killed in the attack.

In its statement, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Pakistan strongly condemns the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran and the strike inside Pakistani territory which resulted in the death of two innocent children while injuring three girls."

"This violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences," it said.

Pakistan described Iran's action as an 'illegal act'.