Iran strikes ‘militant’ bases in Pakistan, Islamabad retaliates: What has caused tension in the region?

In an escalation of tension in the region, Islamabad said on Thursday carried out strikes in Iran’s Siestan-o-Baluchistan province, a day after Iranian forces attacked what they said were militant camps in Pakistan.

The Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the country’s forces had conducted “precision military strikes” against what it called terrorist hide-outs in southeastern Iran. A number of militants were killed, the ministry said in a statement.

What led to the attack?

Pakistan said the action was taken based on “concrete” evidence on the presence of “Pakistan-origin terrorists” in Siestan-o-Baluchistan province. This came two days after Iran had said that it had bombed two bases of Baluchi militant group Jaish al-Adl. The militant group has previously mounted attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan.

Pakistan had strongly condemned the action, and said that it was a “violation of international law and the spirit of bilateral relations” between the two countries”. On Thursday, Pakistan said it enjoys a “brotherly” relationship with Iran, but the strikes were undertaken in pursuit of its “national security”.

Operation Marg Bar Samarachar

The Intelligence-based operation, code-named “Marg Bar Sarmarchar”, was undertaken against terrorists who go by the name “saramarchars” in what it said were “ungoverned” spaces in Iran. The foreign ministry in its statement said that the attack was prompted by a “lack of action” against these terrorists, who it said had been killing Pakistan nationals.

“This action is a manifestation of Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats. The successful execution of this highly complex operation is also a testimony to the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces,” the Foreign Office said, adding that Pakistan will continue to take all necessary steps to preserve the safety and security of its people which is “sacrosanct, inviolable and sacred,” the ministry said in a statement.

Tensions intensify

Tehran and Islamabad frequently accuse each other of allowing millitants to operate from the other’s territory to launch attacks, but it is rare that official forces on either side engage. The strikes have raised tensions in the volatile region, already roiled by Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the targeting of the merchant ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthis.

Who are the Jaish al-Adl?

Jaish al-Adl, literally the “Army of Justice”, are a Sunni Salafist militant group with bases in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, who are active in the mountainous border regions of Pakistan and Iran. They are one of several Sunni militant separatist groups who claim to be fighting for the independence of the Sistan and Baluchestan (known as Asli Balouchestan) province in the southeastern corner of Iran, bordering Pakistan’s Balochistan province and the Indian Ocean.Jaish al-Adl was founded in 2012, and Iranian officials believe it largely operates in Pakistan. The group has allegedly been involved in a series of violent attacks in Iran, and has claimed bombings and kidnapped members of Iran’s border police in the past.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.