November 18, 2024
By | TKD Team
Pakistan has been granted consular access to four nationals arrested by US forces in the Arabian Sea near Yemen earlier this year, spokesperson of Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on Friday during the ministry’s weekly briefing.
According to the US Department of Justice, the four alleged Pakistani nationals have been charged with smuggling Iranian-made advanced weapons, including components for ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles.
The operation, conducted on January 11, resulted in the deaths of two American Navy SEALs. The arrested individuals, including Muhammad Pahlawan, Mohammad Mazhar, Ghufran Ullah, and Izhar Muhammad, face charges of transporting a warhead and providing false information to US Coast Guard officers.
The US Department of Justice emphasized that the complaint sends a strong message: "Acting as a proxy for the IRGC to harm US persons overseas will not be tolerated." Pakistan has expressed its readiness to cooperate in the investigations, and the two sides remain engaged. The US Justice Department will provide further details on the investigation.”
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch added that both countries remain engaged in discussions, with the US Justice Department expected to release additional details regarding the investigation. Pakistan has reiterated its willingness to cooperate fully in the investigation.
