It appears that Iran has gone berserk in its aggression, not differentiating between its friends and foes.
Following its attacks on targeted sites in Iraq and Syria the other day, Iran mounted a missile and drone attack inside Pakistan’s territory on Tuesday night, much to the surprise and shock of Pakistani nation which has always considered and regarded it as a fraternal country.
Iran’s state-run Nour News agency asserted that the attack obliterated key strongholds of the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group in the Panjgur area of Balochistan. During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, claimed that Iranian armed forces targeted an “Iranian terrorist group” in Pakistan.
There is no excuse for violating the sovereignty of an independent nation, and reports indicate the tragic loss of innocent lives, including two children and three girls in the Iranian aggression. Even if Iran had information about potential terrorists in the area, communication with Pakistan would have been the appropriate course as its security forces are capable enough to dismantle and eliminate them.
The fact of matter is that in recent years, Pakistan and its security forces have faced the scourge of terrorism originating from Iran. Despite this, Pakistan has consistently exercised restraint and maturity, opting for greater coordination to eliminate this menace.
It is noteworthy that Iranian soil has been implicated in fostering unrest in Balochistan, exemplified by the arrest of Indian agent Kulbushan Jadhav in the region. The Indian officials themselves have admitted that Kulbushan owned a cargo business in Iran and had been working out of Bandar Abbas and Chabahar Ports.
In response to the illegal Iranian act, Foreign Office Spokesperson rightly affirmed the country’s right to respond, with the responsibility for consequences squarely on Iran. Swift diplomatic measures have been taken, including the recall of Pakistan’s ambassador from Iran and the suspension of high-level visits between the two nations. This demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to protecting its territorial integrity and sends a strong signal of discontent to Iran.
Indeed Pakistan is not Syria and Iraq but a nuclear power which has demonstrated its prowess many a times to defend its territorial integrity. The episode of 2019 should be fresh in the minds of many nations including Iran wherein Pakistan shot down two Indian fighter jets and captured one of their pilots. The reputation of Pakistani troops for effectively countering enemies should serve as a cautionary note to Iran against escalating hostilities.
While Pakistan remains committed to a peaceful neighborhood, it cannot ignore aggression and must respond appropriately as per the expectations of the nation and if it did not, more attacks from the Iranian side cannot be ruled out.
Instead of giving justifications, the Iranian side should also apologize over its blatant aggression. This will pave the way for the two countries to engage and collectively deal with challenges such as terrorism. Already the situation is boiling in the Middle East and the tension between Pakistan and Iran will not augur well for the peace and the stability of the world at large. Terrorism remains a common challenge, necessitating enhanced coordination and intelligence sharing. However, constructive engagement should prevail over finger-pointing, with each side fulfilling its responsibilities for the greater good.
