The attack comes in light of Iranian-Pakistani efforts to restore relations (Shutterstock)
The Iranian Mehr News Agency said on Saturday that unidentified gunmen killed 9 foreigners in an attack in southeastern Iran near the border with Pakistan, amid efforts by the two countries to mend relations after mutual attacks.
The agency quoted witnesses as saying that the attack targeted a house near the city of Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan province, which is witnessing sporadic clashes between security forces and Baloch militants.
For its part, the Baloch human rights group "Hal Wash" said that the dead were Pakistani workers who were living in the car repair shop where they worked. She added that 3 others were injured in the attack.
The attack occurred at a time when Iranian official media reported that the Pakistani and Iranian ambassadors had returned to their duties after they were recalled following the two countries exchanging missile strikes this month, targeting what each of them said were militant sites.
The strikes killed 11 people, most of them women and children, according to the authorities of both countries.
The two countries - which have never previously carried out strikes of this magnitude on each other's territory - are facing armed movements that have been active for decades in their shared border region of Balochistan, which is 1,000 kilometers long.
The exchange of strikes has raised concerns among the international community, while the Middle East region is witnessing an increase in tensions due to the Israeli war on Gaza.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies