By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies
ISLAMABAD — In a further escalation of tensions between Pakistan and Iran, Pakistan’s air force conducted retaliatory airstrikes early Thursday targeting alleged militant positions in Iran. The strikes, which resulted in at least seven casualties, come in response to Iran’s attack on Pakistani soil earlier this week, which claimed the lives of two children in the southwestern Baluchistan province.
The airstrikes, concentrated in Sistan and Baluchestan provinces, are threatening to strain diplomatic relations between the two neighboring nations, who have historically regarded each other with suspicion over militant attacks. The recent developments add to the complexity of an already unsettled Middle East, marked by Israel’s conflict with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
Iran’s attack on Pakistani soil prompted swift retaliation, with Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry describing the airstrikes as “a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes.” The ministry justified the action by citing credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities.
“This morning’s action was taken in light of credible intelligence of impending large-scale terrorist activities,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “This action is a manifestation of Pakistan’s unflinching resolve to protect and defend its national security against all threats.”
Several insurgent groups, including the Jaish al-Adl Sunni terrorist organization, operate in the border region between Iran and Pakistan. These groups share a common goal of advocating for an independent Baluchistan encompassing ethnic Baluch areas in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.
Pakistan named its operation “Marg Bar Sarmachar.” In Iranian Farsi, “marg bar” means “death to,” a phrase used in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution to refer to both the United States and Israel. The local Baluch language interpretation of “sarmachar” means guerrilla, reflecting the nature of militants in the cross-border region.
Casualty figures from Thursday’s retaliatory strike were provided by Ali Reza Marhamati, a deputy governor of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province. The victims included three women and four children near the town of Saravan along the border. Notably, Marhamati acknowledged that the deceased were not Iranian citizens and mentioned a separate blast near Saravan.
Images shared online by HalVash, an advocacy group for the Baluch people, appeared to show remnants of munitions used in the attack. The group reported several homes struck in Saravan and shared videos depicting the aftermath.
Thursday’s events unfolded a day after Pakistan recalled its ambassador to Tehran, denouncing Iran’s Tuesday strikes in Baluchistan province as a “blatant violation” of its airspace. Iran claimed it targeted bases belonging to a militant Sunni separatist group. Pakistan strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that it resulted in the death of two children.
Iranian state television, citing an anonymous official, reported that Tehran strongly condemned the retaliatory attack by Pakistan, demanding an immediate explanation.
The risk of further escalation looms large, as Iran is set to commence an annual air defense drill named Velayat 1402, covering its southern regions from the port of Chabahar near Pakistan to Iraq. The drill will involve live fire exercises with aircraft, drones, and air defense systems.
The cross-border attacks have reignited concerns about the readiness of the military forces of both Iran and Pakistan, particularly their radar and air defense systems. The largely lawless 900-kilometer border between the two nations has long been a route for smugglers and militants, raising questions about the effectiveness of their border security measures. Additionally, these events highlight the strategic importance of the border region, crucial for global opium shipments originating from Afghanistan.
For Pakistan, whose tensions with India remain high, the need for robust defense systems is underscored. Iran, on the other hand, relies on such systems to counter potential threats from its main adversary, the United States. The recent exchange of hostilities adds a new layer of complexity to the geopolitics of the region.