Iran Acknowledges Responsibility
Iran publicly admitted responsibility for a missile and drone attack in western Pakistan on Tuesday. Officials in Islamabad reported that the attack occurred in Balochistan, resulting in the tragic deaths of two children and injuring three others.
Targeting Jaish al-Adl Militant Group
Iran’s foreign minister declared that their operation targeted Jaish al-Adl, an “Iranian terrorist group” operating within Pakistan. In response, Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Iran and blocked Tehran’s envoy from returning.
Escalating Regional Tensions
This incident in Balochistan follows recent Iranian attacks on targets in Iraq and Syria earlier in the week. Islamabad denounced the attack as “illegal” and warned of potential “serious consequences.”
Iran’s Assurance and Middle East Tensions
While speaking at the Davos forum, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, maintained that the attack did not target Pakistani citizens but rather members of Jaish al-Adl. He assured his Pakistani counterpart that Iran respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Missile Strike Amid Middle East Tensions
The missile strike comes at a time of increasing tension in the Middle East, with the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. Iran has expressed its desire not to become further involved in a broader conflict. However, various groups within its “Axis of Resistance,” including Houthi militants in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and several groups in Syria and Iraq, have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in solidarity with the Palestinians. The United States and the United Kingdom have also conducted airstrikes against the Houthis following their attacks on commercial shipping.
China’s Call for Restraint
China has urged both Pakistan and Iran to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could further escalate tension, emphasizing their close neighborly relationship.
Iran’s Motivation and Retaliation
Iran’s recent actions may be driven by a desire for retaliation against those it holds responsible for recent deadly attacks within its borders. In a time of heightened regional tensions, Iran aims to demonstrate its strength and show its population that it will not tolerate acts of violence.
Balochistan Target and Recent Attacks
The missile strike in Pakistan targeted a village in Balochistan, a vast southwestern border province. Iran claimed it was targeting Jaish al-Adl, an ethnic Baloch Sunni Muslim group known for conducting attacks both within Iran and against Pakistani government forces. Last December, Jaish al-Adl attacked a police station near the border with Pakistan.
Iran’s Recent Domestic Attacks
Two weeks ago, Iran experienced its most significant domestic attack since the Islamic Revolution, with two bombs killing 84 people during a ceremony in Kerman commemorating the assassination of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard general, Qasem Soleimani. On Monday, Iran launched ballistic missiles at targets in Syria and Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, citing the Islamic State and Israel’s Mossad spy agency as the intended targets, both of which were allegedly involved in the Kerman bombings.
Cross-Border Security Concerns
While Pakistan and Iran maintain a delicate but generally friendly relationship, both countries have accused each other of harboring militant groups that conduct cross-border attacks. Security concerns have long existed on both sides of their approximately 900km (559-mile) shared border.
Balochistan’s Remote Village
The strike in Iran is believed to have hit Sabz Koh village, situated about 45km from the Iranian border and 90km from the nearest town, Panjgur. This sparsely populated area is home to Baloch tribes involved in livestock ownership and notorious for smuggling goods, drugs, and weapons.
Grievances and Separatist Movements
Zaigham Khan, a security commentator, noted that people on both sides of the border feel deprived of basic necessities, experience discrimination, and demand a larger share of their own resources. In Iran, the Sunni Muslim Baloch minority has expressed grievances about discrimination within the Shia Muslim-majority state, while Baloch separatist groups continue their insurgent movement against the Pakistani government.
Jaish al-Adl Designation and Diplomatic Resolution
Jaish al-Adl is considered the “most active and influential” Sunni militant group operating in Sistan-Baluchestan, according to the US Director of National Intelligence. Both Washington and Tehran have designated it as a terrorist organization. Aamir Rana, another security commentator in Pakistan, suggests that the diplomatic crisis resulting from this incident might take some time to de-escalate. Pakistan has traditionally not responded aggressively to Iran’s actions along the border, but the resolution of this situation now depends on Iran’s response and its willingness to address the issue diplomatically.
