In a historic development, Pakistan has carried out a series of military strikes within Iran, making it the first instance of such actions between the two countries since the Iran-Iraq war that spanned from 1980 to 1988. This follows Iran’s announcement of precision missile and drone strikes on two strongholds of the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province just a day prior.
The recent military actions mark a rare occurrence where both Pakistan and Iran have engaged in attacks on each other’s soil within the same week. The operations on both sides resulted in casualties, with Pakistan claiming that a “number” of militants were killed in its strikes, while Iran reported casualties, including three women and four children, in its retaliatory action.
Pakistan, in a statement, revealed that its forces executed “highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes” in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province under the operation name ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar,’ loosely translating to “death to guerrilla fighters.” The foreign ministry emphasized that the action was taken in response to credible intelligence about impending large-scale terrorist activities.
Relations between the two neighboring nations have soured, with Iran defending its strikes as a response to terrorists on its soil and Pakistan condemning the violation of its airspace. The exchange has prompted Pakistan to recall its ambassador from Iran and suspend high-level visits.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian clarified that the strikes targeted Iranian “terrorists” in Pakistan and reassured that no nationals of Pakistan were harmed. However, Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani strongly condemned Iran’s attack, calling it a serious breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty and a violation of international law.
The underlying tensions in the Baloch region, where both countries have long fought militants, have now reached a critical point. The Baloch people, residing at the intersection of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, have a history of seeking independence and resenting rule from Islamabad and Tehran. The region’s rich natural resources further fuel discontent among the Baloch population.
As these hostilities unfold, concerns are raised about the potential impact on regional security. The Baloch separatist group targeted by Iran, Jaish al-Adl, operates on both sides of the border and advocates for the independence of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan provinces.
