Context

Iran has carried out missile strikes on targets in Pakistan and Iraq, prompting strong condemnation from both neighbours.

Iran-Pakistan Military Strikes: Why Iran Attacked Pakistan?

• Iran has termed the missile attacks as a response to terrorist attacks within its borders, the most recent being the bomb blasts.
• Iran struck the Kurdistan region in Iraq while the target in Pakistan was the base of Sunni Muslim militant group Jaish al-Adl in Balochistan province, which is adjacent to Iranian border. The strikes were carried out by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

• Iran has said that the targets were terrorist groups responsible for the suicide bombing that killed 84 people at a memorial procession for Qassim Suleimani.
• The missile strikes on Pakistani targets were also in response to the attacks on an Iranian police station in the south-eastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.
• As a response to the attacks, Pakistan has expelled the Iranian ambassador and also recalled its own from Tehran.

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Pakistan’s Response to Iran’s Military Strikes in Balochistan

• As a response to strikes by Iran, Pakistani fighter jets struck seven targets inside Iran with precision-guided air-to-ground munitions.
• The targets were the Balochistan-centric terrorist organisation Balochistan Liberation Force, which is fighting for liberation of Balochistan.
• Pakistan says that Iranian territory is being used by Baloch insurgents to attack targets in Pakistan and despite repeated requests, Iran has not acted upon them.

Background: The Instability in West Asia

• Israel war: Since the beginning of war in Israel, Iran has been indirectly participating in the crisis through its proxies of Hezbollah and Houthis.
• Iran’s role: Publicly Iranians speak about diffusing tension but the security apparatus in the nation is making efforts to put pressure on Israel and its allies.
  • Apart from its proxies in Lebanon and Gaza, Iran has been using services of Houthis to destabilise the Red Sea region.
  • Iran-allied terror groups in recent times have struck western targets in Iraq, Israel and also Saudi Arabia.

The Issue of Regional Stability

• Escalation of Tensions: The central Asian region has remained peaceful since the conclusion of the Afghan civil war. The situation could change soon.
• Spread of War in central Asia: Global commentators believe that the devastating war in Gaza could become a broader and deadlier regional conflict.
• Beginning of Proxy war: The strikes by Iran may start a proxy war between Iran on one side and US and its allies on the other.
• Continuation of American troops: The attack could prompt American troops stationed in Iraq to continue their presence.
• Resurgence of Kurdish Militia: The attack on Kurdish territory could further fuel tensions between Kurds and Iranians. 
• Instability in Pakistan: Western policymakers would not like to see instability in an already volatile nuclear-armed Pakistan. They would want a stable Pakistan in their own interests.
• Global Financial Situation: The financial situation in the world may further degrade owing to the clashes between Iran and Pakistan.

Impact on India

• Affects Chabahar Project: The Chabahar port project located in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province may be affected due to the instability.
• Spillover Effect: The clashes between Iran and Pakistan may escalate into a war, and may have a spillover effect in the South Asia region.
• India’s Interests in Afghanistan: The clashes may spread to Afghanistan where India has stakes in developmental projects.
• Security Crisis in Pakistan: India would not want nuclear weapons to proliferate into the hands of non-state actors in case the state of Pakistan collapses.
• Increase in Militancy in Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan may escalate militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in order to divert attention of its citizens during election year.

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Border Tensions Between Iran and Pakistan

• Border: Iran shares a 959-kilometer (596-mile) border with Pakistan, primarily located in the turbulent province of Sistan-Balochistan.
• Ethnic Composition: The region hosts ethnic Baloch people, who are Sunni Muslims, facing discrimination and repression from the Shiite-dominated regime.
• Rise in Tensions: Iran has accused Pakistan of protecting and sheltering militant groups responsible for cross-border attacks, leading to previous threats of military action within Pakistan.
  • Despite enjoying warm ties, Iran and Pakistan routinely accuse each other of not doing enough to prevent anti-state armed groups from sheltering on their respective territories.
  • Iran has repeatedly asked Pakistan to crack down on alleged Jaish al-Adl bases in Balochistan while Iran has been asked by Pakistan to act on ethnic Baloch insurgent groups that have established bases on the Iranian side of the border.

About Balochistan

• About: Balochistan is a region that spans across the countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. The ethnic Baloch people inhabit this region.
  • The region of Balochistan in Pakistan is a vast territory which is known for its untapped mineral wealth, especially oil and gas deposits.
• Location: The region of Balochistan is located along the Gulf of Oman. Mountains and desert make up the majority of the region’s terrain. Quetta is its capital.
• Relief: To the east and southeast part of Balochistan lies Sulaiman Range, which joins the Central Brahui Range near Quetta, and to the north and northwest of the region is the Toba Kakar Range.
  • The Central Makran Range and the Makran Coast Range to the south divides the coastal plain from the rest of the plateau.
• Rivers: Famous rivers in Balochistan include Bolan, Zhob, Hingol, Nari, Porali, Kud, Dasht etc.
• Mountain Pass: Mountain passes in Balochistan region include Bolan pass, Khojak pass, Lak pass, Harnai pass, Gonshero pass etc.

Balochistan Independence Movement

• About: The insurgency movement is multinational, spanning across Pakistan’s Balochistan province, Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan and the Balochistan region of southern Afghanistan. 
• Attacks: Baloch militant groups not just target gas projects, infrastructure and security posts, but also target foreigners, especially Chinese workers.
• Major Militant groups: The Balochistan Liberation Army, Lashkar-e-Balochistan and the Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) are some of the major militant groups. 
• Importance of Balochistan for Pakistan:
  • Balochistan is part of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which spans from Xinjiang in China to Gwadar in Pakistan’s Balochistan.
  • China has developed many mining projects and built an international airport and a port in the province’s southern coastal town of Gwadar.
  • The Pakistani government has a large stake in the region as Balochistan has some of the world’s largest potential sites for copper and gold.

• Reasons for Insurgency:

• • Separate Ethnic Identity: Baloch people have a unique ethnic identity that separates them from the majority groups in their respective countries.
  • Exploitation by Central Government: The Baloch people believe that their central governments exploit them for their natural resources without actually doing anything for their welfare.
  • Poverty: Baloch people are one of the poorest groups. They have been unable to join the mainstream and still remain under the grip of poverty.
  • Presence of Natural Resources: The Balochistan region is rich in natural resources, but very little wealth trickles down to their communities.
• Actions by the Government: The government of Pakistan has been accused of human rights abuses in Balochistan, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, allegedly by the Pakistani Army.
  • The Pakistani government has imposed a ban on Baloch nationalist parties, and only pro-army political entities operate freely, leading to a sort of political vacuum.

Balochistan Liberation Front

• The Balochistan Liberation Front is an insurgent group operating in the whole Balochistan region. The group was founded by Jumma Khan in 1964 in Damascus.
• The BLF played a major role in the rebellion in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province in 1968-1973 and in Pakistan’s Balochistan province in 1973-1977.
• The BLF committed its first terrorist act in 2000 when it claimed credit for bombing Pakistani officials.
• It announced a violent struggle in 2004 against Pakistan for the self-determination of the Baloch people and the separation of Balochistan from Pakistan.

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Conclusion

• The border clashes between Iran and Pakistan must not be allowed to escalate as it will create another war frontier in Asia.
• Start of war in this region could not only hamper peace, it may further create economic problems for the whole world.

Additional Reading: The Red Sea Crisis