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The surprising and somewhat unexpected recent exchange of airstrikes between Iran and Pakistan is attributable to their shared problem of the Baluchistan region. The region covers the Pakistani province of Balochistan, the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan and the southern Balochistan region of Afghanistan. The region is home to the ethno-linguistic Baloch people, also spelled Baluch, who have been resisting the rule of Tehran and Islamabad for decades.
This resistance has been considered an insurgency or even a revolt. Throughout their history, the Baloch people have been victims of marginalization by their respective countries. Baloch nationalists have had a confrontational and violent relationship with Pakistan’s central government since the establishment of the state in 1947, but in 2004, the long-term simmering tensions escalated in the form of a renewed insurgency. The conflict stems partly from the Baloch people’s rejection of Pakistan’s imposition of the historical narrative of the country’s formation as a religiously homogenous country, believing instead that they are ethnically distinct and subsequently demanding independence.
Naturally, these grievances have led to insurgencies and conflicts bubbling across the porous border region for decades. Moreover, the Baloch people feel their region and people have been neglected in terms of economic development and political representation, further fuelling their revolt. This problem is not often brought to the international stage due to other greater internal and international issues relating to Iran and Pakistan, notably Iran’s proxy conflict with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Kahn being sentenced to 14 years in jail for corruption. However, the recent airstrikes have reminded the world of the Baloch people’s place in the region and the potential wider implications this situation could have.
The situation began when Iran launched a series of missiles and drone strikes in Western Pakistan on Tuesday 16th January. Iran’s foreign minister stated the operation targeted the militant group Jaish al-Adl, which he described as an ‘Iranian terrorist group’. The group is a Sunni Baluchi separatist organisation which operates in southeastern Iran. Officials in Islamabad have said two children were killed and three others injured. Islamabad stated the attack was ‘illegal’ and recalled their ambassador in Tehran immediately. Despite this, Iran’s foreign minister continued to claim they were only targeting Iranian terrorists on Pakistani soil. 2 days later Pakistan conducted a series of retaliatory strikes which their foreign ministry described the attack as ‘a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes on Iranian soil. Pakistan conducted strikes against terrorist hideouts in Iran’s south-eastern province, claiming a number of terrorists were killed during their intelligence based operation.
Whilst there has been suggestion that the situation could potentially spill out into the rest of south Asia, the chance of this happening is incredibly slim. Both states recognise the volatile nature of the Middle East at this time and further recognise the international community’s desire for the region to maintain any semblance of stability it can. Both countries acted responsibly and well during the aftermath of the airstrikes and neither country desires a broader conflict. Iran has its plate full on several fronts, not least of these being Pakistan’s general election being very significant.
It should also be noted that prior to the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, both states supported different sides with Pakistan supporting the Taliban and Iran the Northern Alliance. Thus, there are substantial differences to the countries’ regional foreign policy approaches. Afghanistan, of course being home to part of the Baloch region, is important in the wider shared issue of this people to both nations. Given each country has long accused the other of allowing their territory to be used for insurgent attacks across their shared 900km border, these recent skirmishes and tensions are nothing new. However, despite these events being unprecedented, it does convey how a long term, shared issue between the two countries could suddenly rise to boiling point.
Image: ‘Demonstration in Support of the Baloch People of Iran (London)’, 2023 // CC0 1.0 Universal
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