Pakistan on Thursday designated Iran-backed Shiite militant group Zainebiyoun Brigade as a terror organisation.

Formed by the IRGC after the Syrian civil war began, the Zainebiyoun Brigade, also known as Liwa Zainebiyoun, mobilized Pakistani Shiite militants who were then sent to fight forces opposed to Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, a close ally of Iran and Russia, reported Iran International.

The regime has been actively involved in the  Syrian conflict since 2013.

To help maintain Assad’s rule, Iran dispatched its other proxies to Syria as well, including Hezbollah, Iraq’s Nujaba Movement, and also the Fatemiyoun Division, which was composed of Afghan Shiite fighters, Iran International reported.

Iranian officials and state media have often credited former IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani as the man behind launching,   training and funding all these militant groups.

In a US-drone attack, Soleimani was killed in 2020 in Baghdad.

Pakistan's fresh move may further escalate tension between  Tehran and Islamabad.

Relationship touched a low point in January when the IRGC attacked positions in Pakistan in what it called was an attack on terrorisrts.

In a retaliatory attack, Pakistan targeted locations in southeastern Iran.