Singapore, Islamabad, and London – Pakistan and Iran engaged in missile strikes against each other, resulting in casualties. Pakistan launched its strikes into Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, targeting what it called “terrorist hideouts.” However, Iran condemned the attack, which it said caused the deaths of three women, two men, and four non-Iranian children. While Iran affirmed its commitment to good neighborly relations with Pakistan, it called on Islamabad to stop the establishment of “bases and armed terrorist groups” on its territory.
These reciprocal attacks come at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with multiple overlapping crises unfolding. Israel is currently in conflict with the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza and exchanging fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. In addition, Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria are targeting U.S. forces, while the U.S. and UK have carried out strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Thursday’s strikes by Pakistan mark the first external land attack on Iran since Saddam Hussein’s forces invaded in the 1980s, initiating a brutal eight-year war. Pakistan’s strikes, conducted with drones, rockets, and long-range missiles, targeted the Balochistan Liberation Army and the Balochistan Liberation Front. These groups have been involved in a long-standing struggle for greater autonomy in Balochistan, a remote region in southwestern Pakistan.
Iran and Pakistan have a complex but generally cooperative relationship. Despite this recent escalation, their ministers met at Davos, and their navies conducted joint exercises in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf. Both countries share concerns about the lawless border region, which is known for its high activity of drug smugglers and militant Baloch groups.
As tensions remain high, countries such as China, Turkey, and the Taliban government in Afghanistan have called for restraint and dialogue. Meanwhile, experts suggest that Pakistan’s retaliation against Iran not only raises the risk of further escalation but also provides an opportunity to step back from the brink. However, some commentators argue that the Pakistani government felt domestic pressure to respond, as the country is facing an upcoming election.
While Iran insists its strikes were aimed only at a Baloch Sunni Muslim militant group, Jaish al-Adl, it is clear that tensions in the region are escalating. Iran’s recent attacks on Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan may be a result of various dynamics unfolding in the Middle East. Tehran claims that it does not want to become involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict but supports groups targeting Israel and its allies in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Despite this escalation, there is still hope for a de-escalation through dialogue. However, analysts warn that this recent border confrontation represents the most serious escalation in tensions between Pakistan and Iran in recent memory.