Pakistan-Iran tension: Resolution lies only in diplomacy
By Syed Ali Hassan
Iran Daily’s correspondent in Pakistan
Iran and Pakistan have traded barbs after both sides launched cross-border strikes with heavy weaponry.
Iran targeted the hideouts of Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s Panjgur and Turbat in Baluchistan late on Tuesday in response to two deadly attacks by terrorist group on Iranian border guards. In the border region of Saravan in Iran, according to Iranian media, nine individuals were killed in attacks by the Pakistani military.
In such a complex situation, the primary issue continues to be the secondary status, with the presence of terrorist havens and the resulting terrorism in both countries. Iran and Pakistan have exchanged evidence regarding terrorist havens and the elements involved in terrorism at the official level.
The insurgency of nationalist and militant forces is at an alarming level in Pakistani Baluchistan, receiving support and approval from the local population. Similarly, incidents of terrorism persist in Iranian Sistan and Baluchestan.
However, the situation in Iranian Sistan and Baluchestan does not mirror that of Pakistani Baluchistan. The border areas of Iranian Sistan and Baluchestan, including the capital city Zahedan as well as Chabahar port, are predominantly inhabited by Sunni Muslims, who share familial ties with Baloch residents in Pakistan.
Due to this shared cultural connection, both brotherly nations have granted special status to the Baloch residing on the border. Local Baloch can travel between the two countries without visas, and Baloch residents on both sides engage in marriages, forming close bonds. The border area carries a history of friendly relations and brotherhood.
I have personally witnessed instances of religious harmony in Sistan and Baluchestan multiple times. In the grand mosque and affiliated seminaries in Zahedan, many people, including followers of the prominent Pakistani Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani, offer prayers on Fridays. This includes individuals from the Shia sect as well.
Governments of Pakistan and Iran must unite to thwart the designs of foreign powers and prevent further tragic events. The terrorist organization Jaish al-Adl is active in Iran, and Pakistan is well aware of its activities. The organization poses a clear threat to Iranian nation.
Both Pakistan and Iran are aware of the roots of the issue. Pakistan acknowledges that it lacks the means to prevent elements with nefarious designs from entering Iran through its 900-kilometer-long border.
In 2019, Pakistan and Iran agreed to form a joint Rapid Reaction Force with the aim of ensuring the protection of border areas and targeting separatist groups.
Pakistan and Iran need to put into action the Rapid Reaction Force promptly to resolve border issues and mitigate the common threat of terrorism. Otherwise, both countries will continue to face the consequences. Both neighbors need to address this issue through diplomatic channels, as the region cannot afford a new cycle of hostilities.