Iran strikes in Iraq, Syria and Pakistan
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Recent attacks on Iran
- December 2023: Police station in Iran’s Sistan Baluchestan province was attacked by the Jaish al-Adl.
- Senior adviser to Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed in an alleged Israeli air strike in a southern suburb of Damascus (Syria) in December 2023.
- The Islamic State-Khorasan (the Afghanistan-based branch of the Islamic State terrorist group) claimed Kerman blasts in January 2024.
Retaliatory Iranian air strikes
- It launched missiles and kamikaze drones into Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan.
- The IRGC claimed to have destroyed “an espionage centre” of Mossad, Israel’s external security agency.
- Iran launched missiles into Syria’s Idlib, the northwestern region controlled by jihadists and rebels.
- Iran carried out a surprise attack in Panjgur, a border town in Pakistan’s Balochistan, claiming to target the training camps of Jaish al-Adl.
Pakistan’s response
- Pakistan denounced the attack as a “blatant violation” of its airspace and UN charter.
- It has recalled the country’s Ambassador to Iran.
- Pakistan has launched retaliatory strikes, claiming to target “terrorist hideouts” in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province.
What is Jaish al-Adl, which Iran claimed to target?
- Jaish al-Adl, the “Army of Justice”, is a Sunni Salafist militant group.
- It operates in the Baloch areas of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
- It is an offshoot of Jundallah – a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the US.
- It aims for independence of the Sistan and Baluchestan provinces (known as Asli Balouchestan).
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Balochs in Iran
- Ethnic groups of the Pakistani province of Balochistan and Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan provinces.
- They speak the Balochi language with a unique cultural identity, different from ethnic Persians.
- The Sunni Baloch minority in Iran has faced religious persecution by the Shia state, especially after the Revolution of 1979.
- Moreover, Sistan and Baluchestan remain among the country’s poorest regions.
Neighbouring Countries of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan
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Pakistan’s Attack on Iran
- Pakistan targeted Iran-based hideouts of the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — both deemed as “terrorist organisations” by Pakistan.
Baloch Liberation Front (BLF)
- It was founded by Jumma Khan Marri in Damascus, Syria, in 1964.
- Carried out Baloch insurgency in Iran in 1968-73, then in Pakistan in 1973-78.
- It moved to Afghanistan in the 1980s, with a resurgence in 2004 led by Allah Nazar Baloch.
Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)
- Founded around 2000 and began a violent struggle for Baloch self-determination in Pakistan in 2004.
- Currently led by Basheer Zeb.
Militant activities by BLF & BLA
- Attacks on Pakistan: On civilians, journalists, government officials and military in Pakistan, Balochistan and beyond.
- Attacks on Chinese personals: Both these Baloch militant groups target Chinese gas and infrastructure projects in Pakistan.
- Alleged India connection: Pakistan has alleged that India provides arms, training, and financial aid to these groups.
- Rejection by India: India and the militant groups reject such baseless claims.
Geographical features of Balochistan Region
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Iran-Pakistan Strikes: India’s Stakes
Foreign Policy Implications
- Dynamic elements: Terrorism, close ties with Israel, and deeper engagement with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are dynamic elements in Indian foreign policy.
- Geopolitical impacts of Baluchistan’s strategic location cannot be ignored.
- China’s presence in Gwadar complicates the situation for both India and the US.
- Developmental projects in Iran and Afghanistan, including the Chabahar port, can be affected.
Security Implications
- Organised crime: The ungoverned and under-governed spaces in the Baloch lands provide fertile ground for organised crime, posing a challenge to internal security.
- Role of Taliban: In search of new friends in the region, the adventures of the Taliban may escalate.
- Maritime security of India is being challenged by the attacks on its shipping in the Arabian Sea.
- Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan may escalate militancy in J&K to divert domestic attention.
Economic interests
- An unstable Middle East with crucial shipping routes and resources impacts India’s economic interests.
- Energy needs of India rely heavily on the oil-rich Gulf region, which is the centre of the conflict.