Pakistan and Iran have exchanged missile and drone strikes in the past two days, escalating the tensions in the region and adding to the complexity of the Middle East crisis. The strikes targeted militant groups that both countries accuse of carrying out cross-border attacks and terrorism.
The first strike was launched by Iran on Tuesday, hitting an area of Pakistan’s Balochistan province near the Iranian border. Iran claimed it was targeting Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni separatist group that has been behind several attacks inside Iran, including a suicide bombing that killed 85 people in Kerman earlier this month. Pakistan condemned the strike as “illegal” and warned of “serious consequences”. It also recalled its ambassador from Tehran and expelled the Iranian envoy in Islamabad.
The second strike was carried out by Pakistan on Thursday, hitting “terrorist hideouts” in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province. Pakistan said it had acted on “credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities” and killed a number of “terrorists”. It also said it respected Iran’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity”. Iran’s state TV reported that nine people, including three women and four children, were killed in the strike.
The reciprocal strikes come at a time when the Middle East is facing multiple crises, involving Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, the US, the UK, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and the Houthis. The strikes also highlight the long-standing grievances and mistrust between Pakistan and Iran, who share a 959-km border that is often porous and volatile. Both countries have accused each other of harboring and supporting militant groups that operate in the border regions, especially in Balochistan, a remote and restive area that spans both sides of the border.
The recent military actions taken by Pakistan and Iran pose a potential risk of heightened tensions and increased violence, yet they also present an opportunity for diplomatic engagement and collaboration. Both nations share a mutual interest in upholding stability and security within the region, along with a commitment to counteracting terrorism and extremism. Additionally, their historical and cultural connections, as well as previous cooperation on matters like the Afghan peace process and the Iran nuclear deal, further highlight common ground.
However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that there are divergent interests and alliances between the two countries, such as Pakistan’s close ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran’s support for Shia groups in the region. The future trajectory of Pak-Iran relations hinges on how both nations navigate the aftermath of these recent events and whether they can address the underlying causes of their disputes and mutual mistrust. It is in the best interest of Pakistan and Iran to seek dialogue and cooperation, emphasizing shared objectives while navigating their differences to build a foundation for a more stable and collaborative future.
