Iran’s Airstrike on Pakistan: S. Jaishankar’s Second Day in Iran, Iran Attack in Baluchistan; Pakistan Warns of Serious Consequences
Iran has stirred global tensions by launching airstrikes in Baluchistan, Pakistan. On Tuesday night, Iranian missiles and drones targeted the hideouts of the Sunni terrorist organization “Jaish-al-Adl” in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, as reported by the Iranian government news agency IRNA. Notably, this information was removed from the news agency’s portal shortly after being provided. It is noteworthy that India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar was in Iran on the same day. The attack on Pakistan by Iran following their meeting has brought this issue to international discussions.
Following this, Pakistan responded with a strong statement around 2 am. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Iran has violated its airspace. During this incident, two children lost their lives, and three girls were injured. Iran will face serious consequences for its actions.
Pakistan’s Warning – Serious Consequences Ahead
Pakistan stated that Iran’s actions have further complicated relations between the two countries due to extensive media coverage. The foreign minister had contacted the Iranian government in Tehran, expressing our position.
Iran has also been invited to provide its perspective on the matter. We have always emphasized that terrorism poses a threat to the entire world, and addressing it requires joint efforts. However, this one-sided action by Iran against Pakistan will strain the bilateral relations.
According to Iranian media, the region where the attack occurred in Pakistan is known as the Green Mountain. Currently, there has been no official response from the Pakistani military.
Reasons Behind the Attack?
Iran, a Shia-majority country, has had strained relations with Pakistan, where approximately 95% of the population is Sunni. Sunni militant groups in Pakistan have opposed Iran’s Shia government. Besides, the terrorist organization Jaish-al-Adl, active in Baluchistan, has repeatedly attacked Iranian military personnel and facilities near the border. The Iranian government has issued several warnings to Pakistan to take action against these terrorist groups.
Iran-Pakistan-Israel Dynamics in the Hamas Conflict
A significant number of terrorists from Jaish-al-Adl have joined from other Pakistani terrorist organizations. Iran openly supports Hamas in its conflict with Israel, and Pakistan has also expressed support for Hamas in this matter.
Iran had previously attacked Iraq on Monday. At that time, they claimed that the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad had its headquarters in Iraq and needed to be targeted. Iraq had summoned the Iranian ambassador and strongly condemned the attack, warning that an appropriate response would be given at the right time.
In the terrorist attack, eight Iranian soldiers lost their lives in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province in 2015, leading to deteriorating relations between the two countries. Since then, Sunni extremist attacks in Baluchistan, particularly targeting Iranian military personnel, have escalated tensions along the Iran-Pakistan border.
Iran had carried out a surgical strike in Pakistan in 2021, claiming that it was in response to the kidnapping of two Iranian soldiers by Jaish-al-Adl. The operation was not publicly acknowledged by the Pakistani military.
The recent military escalation indicates the complex regional dynamics and longstanding issues between Iran and Pakistan, especially in the Baluchistan region. The situation remains tense, and further developments are awaited.
Attack on Iranian Soldiers and Release
In February 2019, Jaish al-Adl carried out an attack on an Iranian military bus in this region. In this attack, many Iranian soldiers were killed, and dozens were injured. In October 2018, this terrorist organization had abducted 14 Iranian soldiers near the Mirjaveh border in Sistan-Baluchistan province, and they were released a month later.
It is said that later, in a covert operation, Iranian commandos not only rescued these hostages but also targeted many terrorists associated with Jaish al-Adl. Even the Pakistani government confirmed this information, and Iran’s ambassador in Pakistan also verified the incident.
Changing Geopolitics Due to Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine Issues
Geopolitics is rapidly changing due to the issues involving Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine. The Houthi rebels in Yemen and the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon have been benefiting from these conflicts. Particularly noteworthy is that these organizations have found support in Iran’s firm stance. The Houthi rebels have been targeting maritime vessels of various countries in the Red Sea.
Keeping India’s interests in mind in this geopolitics, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visited Iran on Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, a media outlet reported that Houthi rebels are specifically targeting Western naval ships, and India is not their direct target.
News18 has claimed based on confidential sources that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran or the military, in collaboration with Hezbollah, provides training to Houthi rebels. They supply drones, ballistic missiles, and other weapons to these militants through ships. According to the report, China assists them in establishing factories, stealing components of weapons, and advising on various matters.On the other hand, Iran views India as a partner against Western countries.
