9 Pakistani nationals killed in Iran

Pakistan on Saturday night confirmed the killing of nine Pakistani nationals in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, reported Xinhua, quoting the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.

"It is a horrifying and despicable incident and we condemn it unequivocally," spokesperson of the ministry Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was quoted as saying in a statement.

Pakistan is in touch with Iranian authorities and has underscored the need to immediately investigate the incident and hold to account those involved in the crime, she said.

"Pakistan's consul in Zahedan city of southeastern Iran is on way to the hospital where injured people are being treated and will reach there in a few hours due to long distances and security imperatives involved," Baloch said.

The consul will also meet local authorities, and among other things, impress upon them the urgent need for strong action against the perpetrators of this crime, she added.

Nine non-Iranian nationals were killed Saturday in Sistan and Baluchestan by unidentified armed individuals, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

The armed individuals killed the foreign nationals in a house in Saravan County in the early hours of Saturday, Mehr quoted informed people as saying.

"We are fully seized of this grave matter and are taking all necessary measures in this regard, and the embassy will do its best to repatriate dead bodies at the earliest," said the Pakistani spokesperson.