At least eight Pakistani nationals were killed in a gun attack in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Balochistan province, according to initial reports from local media and diplomatic sources.

The victims, reportedly motor mechanics hailing from Bahawalpur, Punjab, were targeted by unidentified armed assailants suspected to be linked to an anti-Pakistan terrorist outfit. Their bodies were recovered from a remote region near the border, and the process of verification and identification is currently underway.

The Pakistani Embassy in Iran dispatched diplomats to the scene to gather additional information. Because of the remoteness of the location, the Iranian authorities have not formally released details, but Iranian media confirmed that the attack was by gun-carrying gunmen who fired at the Pakistani workers.

This event has put a shadow on recent attempts by Pakistan and Iran to enhance bilateral relations after a tense beginning to the year. It was only in January 2024 that the two neighbouring nations had experienced a brief diplomatic confrontation. On January 17, Iranian troops conducted a strike within Pakistani borders, killing two children and injuring three girls. Pakistan responded the next day, attacking militant camps in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province.

Despite the setback, both nations moved quickly to ease tensions. On January 19, the two decided to resume diplomatic relations, and by January 26, ambassadors were back in Islamabad and Tehran under a mutual understanding. Recently, on April 22, Iran and Pakistan signed a plan to boost bilateral trade volume to $10 billion, marking a new era of cooperation.