Pakistan and Iran diplomatic crisis: What is Happening 

Pakistan and Iran relations went down spiral in a tit-for-tat attack which was started by Iran raising fears for regional peace and security.  

Source: Nikkei Asia 

The Current Scenario

Islamabad. There is an explosive development between Pak Iran relations. In a prompt response to the violation of sovereignty by Iran a day earlier, Pakistan has today responded with military strikes inside Iran causing multiple casualties.

 As per reports from the military two banned organizations Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) had hideouts there which were targeted. Tehran reported 9 killings in the attack. 

This operation was named ‘‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’’. It was launched by Pakistan on Thursday in retaliation to the Iranian attacks on Pakistani soil in Panjgur border region of Balochistan which killed 2 children. 

Immediately after the Iranian violation of Pakistani airspace Islamabad downgraded diplomatic ties with Iran which led to calling of Pakistani ambassador from Iran and exit of Tehran’s envoy stationed in Islamabad. 

Pak-Iran border length is a long one as they share a 900 Km long border which remains restricted due to militants crossing the border. As the two countries were working on Pak Iran gas pipeline project a few months ago, but this attack but this attack put halt to all that.

Context of News: Iran attacks Pakistan 

This latest Pak Iran border flare up occurred when the Middle East is on the cusp of a regional war. In the broader context of a restive regional situation on the pretext of Israel-Hamas war and US recent attacks on the Houthis who were attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea in a protest of Israel’s war on Palestinians in Gaza. This was an unprovoked attack by Iran in a clear violation of the sovereignty of Pakistan. Iran gave the rationale of attacking Jaish al-Adl in the Balochistan province of Pakistan which Islamabad called unacceptable and illegal action. 

The attack on Pakistan was a series of other attacks which Iran carried in Syria and Iraq as well. The Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amirabdollahian termed these attacks on “Iranian terrorist group”. 

Pakistan strongly rejected this response diplomatically and gave a response on Thursday with a targeted military strike inside Sistan-Baluchestan province. When the attack happened, Pakistan had clearly communicated that it reserves the right to respond. 

All planned high-level visits are cancelled by Islamabad in a strong protest to the violation of international law irrespective of the fact that there are various modes of communication between two countries. 

After giving a response to the attack, Pakistan reiterated the stance of peace and cooperation between two brotherly Muslim countries. Islamabad has also highlighted the importance of dialogue in dealing with mutual problems like terrorism collectively. 

In this developing situation, both PM and FM out of the country have shortened their visits to return to the country quickly. 

In a statement foreign office said that sovereignty is sacrosanct. Plus, Islamabad has no intention or interest in escalating the situation further. 

Global response to Pakistan-Iran Relations tensions

China has called both countries which have strong relations with both countries to show restraint and also offered to mediate in easing the tension if both countries are willing for it. 

The US has condemned the Iranian attacks recently in Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan whose borders it violated in the last few days. Washington further called Iran “the leading funder of instability in the region”.  The United States itself has a very troubled relationship with Iran historically as Henry Kissenger gave a brief to this relationship recently in a response from The Washington Post. 

India in its response said, “This is a matter between Iran and Pakistan” and further added that it understood steps countries take in terms of their self-defence.

Turkey stressed on the point of solving issues through mutual cooperation, friendship and mutual respect between brotherly countries. It also called for showing restraint. 

The statement from foreign ministry of the Afghan Taliban mentioned the need for solving issues by diplomacy and mutual respect through dialogue. 

Russia regretted that this is happening between members of the SCO organization. It also highlighted the danger of playing into the hands of forces which are inimical to the peace and security in the region. 

The EU gave a statement as a concern after violence broke out between Iran and Pakistan. Mentioning the overall attacks and violence in the Middle East as those attacks violated the fundamental principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty.  

A Timeline of terror attacks 

December 2023

The terror group Jaish al-Adl attacked a police station which killed 11 security people. Pakistan condemned that attack. 

June 2023

Two Pak soldiers lost lives in an attack by terrorists which escaped into Iran. Pakistan asked Iran to stop these terrorists from running away into the country. 

April 2023

4 soldiers at the border lost lives in Kech, Balochistan from militant attack. 

January 2023

PM Shahbaz condemned the killing of 4 soldiers. Foreign Affairs ministry asked for an investigation into the matter. 

September 2021

1 soldier killed in a cross-border terrorist attack from Iran. 

February 2021

Security personnel entered into Pakistan in a bid to save their agents which were captured by militants. 

April 2019

FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a media briefing said that terrorists based in Iran killed 14 people which include 10 navy officers. 

December 2018

4 security personnel and 42 other wounded in an attack in Chabahar city of Iran. Iran’s FM indirectly blamed it on Pak. Foreign ministry of PAK condemned the attack. 

October 2018

12 intelligence officers from IRGC were kidnapped whose responsibility was accepted by Jaish al Adl. Pakistan helped in recovering 5 of these from the militant  group. 

April 2018

3 security personnel killed in a militant attack in sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran. 

June 2017

An Iranian drone was downed by Pakistan which was first ever from Iran. 

Some earliest record 

In 2014, 5 members of the Iranian military were kidnapped.

14 Iranian soldiers were killed near the border  by the attack of Jaish al-Adl in 2013.  

In 2010, there was a suicide attack which killed 41 people and wounded 90 others. 

Pak Iran relations: The way forward
As per experts the way forward for Pak Iran relations is through peace, dialogue and communication through the proper channels instead of kinetic operations on each other’s territory.

Source: Pakistan-Iran border tensions: A timeline | Military News | Al Jazeera