Pakistan has launched retaliatory missile strikes into neighbouring Iran, two days after an Iranian attack inflamed relations between the two states.

Pakistan said its strikes had hit “terrorist hideouts” in the bordering Sistan-o-Balochistan province.

Iranian media reported that three women and four children had been killed.

Pakistan’s hit comes after it was outraged by Iran’s strike, which Tehran said was aimed at terrorist groups.

Both countries have long accused each other of harbouring militant groups that carry out attacks from regions along their shared border.

But official military action between Pakistan and Iran on this issue is uncommon, and they typically maintain cordial, although fragile, relations.

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