Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s air force conducted retaliatory airstrikes on militant positions in Iran, escalating tensions between the two neighboring nations. The strikes, which took place in Sistan and Baluchestan province, came in response to Iran’s attack on Pakistani soil earlier in the week, which resulted in the deaths of two children.
The longstanding suspicion between Iran and nuclear-armed Pakistan has been fueled by their mutual concerns over militant attacks. These recent airstrikes have further strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Moreover, the airstrikes in Iran raised concerns about the potential spread of violence in an already unsettled Middle East, following Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iran has also carried out airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in response to an Islamic State-claimed suicide bombing that killed over 90 people.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry defended its retaliatory attack as a response to credible intelligence regarding imminent terrorist activities. The ministry stated that the airstrikes were part of their commitment to protect national security against all threats.
Various insurgent groups, including the Jaish al-Adl Sunni separatist group targeted by Tehran, operate in both Iran and Pakistan. These groups share the goal of establishing an independent Baluchistan for ethnic Baluch areas in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.
Both Pakistan’s Baluchistan province and Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province have experienced a low-level insurgency by Baluch nationalists for more than two decades.
On Thursday, a deputy governor of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province confirmed the casualty figures from the retaliatory strike, stating that three women and four children were killed near the town of Saravan. The victims were not Iranian citizens.
The risk of further escalation remains, as Iran’s military is set to begin an annual air defense drill across its southern region, including live fire exercises. The drill, called Velayat 1402, will commence from Iran’s Port of Chabahar near the border with Pakistan and extend to Iraq.
The cross-border attacks have raised concerns about the preparedness of both countries’ militaries, particularly regarding their radar and air defense systems. Pakistan and Iran share a 900-kilometer border, which is often used by smugglers and militants and is a pivotal route for opium shipments from Afghanistan.
The involvement of China adds another layer to the situation. As a key regional player, China has urged restraint between Iran and Pakistan. It is also heavily invested in the development of the Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province as part of its Belt and Road initiative.
The recent events highlight the delicate balance of power and security challenges faced by both Iran and Pakistan, as well as the potential implications for regional stability.