News Analysis India

Tag: Iran

  • Pakistan, Iran To Hold Telephonic Talks Amid Tension After Cross-Border Attacks | world news

    New Delhi: Pakistan and Iran are expected to hold talks over telephone on Friday evening to ease the tension between the two countries after they launched missile strikes against alleged militants in each other’s territory. The development comes as officials of the foreign ministries from the two sides exchanged messages of goodwill, showing that the tiff between the two neighbors was cooling off sooner than it erupted two days ago.

    Pakistan conducted “precision military strikes” against what it called “terrorist hideouts” in Iran’s Siestan-Balochistan province that killed nine people on Thursday. The attack was seen as retaliation to Iranian missile and drone attacks on Tuesday, which targeted two bases of the Sunni Baloch militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s unruly Balochistan province.

    Belying fears of escalation, the two sides are apparently trying to come back from the precipice. “Foreign ministers Jalil Abbas Jilani and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian would interact to ease tension between the countries,” well-placed sources told PTI. The sources also said that talks would be held by the evening without giving exact time.

    The high-level contact will take place as officials of the foreign ministries of the two sides exchanged messages of goodwill, showing that the tiff between the two neighbors was cooling off sooner than it erupted two days ago.

    Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch shared an exchange of messages between Additional Foreign Secretary Rahim Hayat Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Rasoul Mousavi on her X handle, saying: “Some positive exchanges.”

    In an He said Pakistan and Iran have fraternal relations and the countries need to move forward to resolve all issues through positive dialogue.

    He said it is important to restore trust and confidence that has always defined bilateral relations between the two countries. “Our common challenges including terrorism require coordinated action,” he added.

    Mousavi said he believed that Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the endpoint of the prevailing tensions between the two countries. “Leaders and high officials of both countries know that only terrorists and enemies of both countries benefit from the existing tension between the two neighboring countries,” he wrote on X in Persian.

    Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has summoned separate meetings of the federal cabinet and the National Security Committee (NSC) to discuss the situation arising out of Pak-Iran tension.

    Kakar was also set to preside over the meeting of his cabinet to discuss the Iran situation. Kakar, who was in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, cut his trip short to return home on Thursday. Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani also returned from a trip to Uganda.

  • In Bid To Show Brave Face To India, Pakistan Just Exposed Itself At Global Stage | world news

    Days after Iran hit terrorist bases in Pakistan’s Balochistan, Islamabad has now retaliated by hitting terrorist bases in Tehran’s territory. In a press brief, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Islamabad undertook a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in the Siestan-o-Baluchistan province of Iran. It said that several terrorists were killed during the intelligence-based operation codenamed ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’. Tehran has confirmed 9 deaths in the attack. Islamabad’s military action comes after a missile attack by Tehran targeting a terrorist group killed two children in the southwestern Balochistan province of Pakistan.

    Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the sole objective of today’s Act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest.

    Responding to a media query on India’s remark, a Pakistani official said that New Delhi will now understand the action taken in self-defense. “I am sure that India will understand the action Pakistan has taken in its self-defense today.”

    India has said that the attack on Balochistan was a matter between Iran and Pakistan. “Insofar as India is concerned, we have an uncompromising position of zero tolerance towards terrorism. We understand actions that countries take in their self-defense,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India.

    India had carried out two surgical strikes on Pakistan after Narendra Modi came to power in 2014. While trying to send a message to New Delhi about self-defense, Pakistan has purportedly exposed itself and Iran. Pakistan wanted to show that it would even respond to India in case of any future events like a surgical strike, it showed to the world that it indeed harbors terrorist groups in its home. Iran has already accused Pakistan of not taking action against terror groups despite several requests.

    Knowing that attacking Iran would further escalate the tension between the two nations, Pakistan took a safer line by saying that Iran is a brotherly country and that the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the Iranian people. “We have always emphasized dialogue and cooperation in confronting common challenges including the menace of terrorism and will continue to endeavor to find joint solutions,” said Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

    By issuing this statement, Pakistan again confirmed that terror groups are thriving uninterrupted in the country, a claim that India has made several times.

  • Seven Civilians Killed In Pakistan’s Airstrikes On Baloch Hideouts In Iran: Report | world news

    New Delhi: Pakistan has bombed Baluchi separatist camps in Iran, in a counter-attack to Iran’s earlier airstrike on Pakistani territory, Reuters reported citing a senior intelligence official. The official said that Pakistan had targeted the bases of Baluchi rebels who had been carrying out cross-border attacks on Pakistan. The Pakistani strikes, however, were not officially confirmed by the authorities, while Iranian media reported that several missiles had landed in a village in the Sistan-Baluchistan province that borders Pakistan.

    The Iranian media said that three women and four children, all non-Iranians, had been killed in the attack. The incident has triggered a diplomatic crisis between the two neighbours, who have long had strained relations over security and sectarian issues.

    Iran had claimed on Tuesday that it had attacked the bases of Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group that operates from Pakistan and has links to Israel. Iran had accused the group of being behind several attacks inside Iran. Pakistan had denied Iran’s claim and said that the Iranian strike had killed two children and injured three others in an “unprovoked violation” of its sovereignty.

    Pakistan’s foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani had called his Iranian counterpart and lodged a strong protest over the attack, saying that it was “a serious breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty, international law and the spirit of bilateral relations”. Pakistan had also recalled its ambassador from Iran and blocked the Iranian envoy from returning to Islamabad.

    The escalation of the conflict between Iran and Pakistan comes at a time when the region is already witnessing heightened tensions, with Israel and Hamas engaged in a war in Gaza. Iran, which supports Hamas and other militant groups in the region, has also carried out strikes on Iraq and Syria in recent days, after a twin suicide bombing by the Islamic State killed more than 90 people in Iran.

    Iran has said that it does not want to get involved in a wider war, but has vowed to defend itself against any aggression.

  • What Is Jaish al-Adl, The Sunni Extremist Group In Pakistan Attacked By Iran | world news

    TEHRAN: Jaish al-Adl, the shadowy Sunni extremist group operating on the Iran-Pakistan border, continues to cast a shadow over the region. Here’s an in-depth exploration of its roots, activities, and the geopolitical dynamics at play.

    Jundallah’s Genesis

    Jaish al-Adl, translating to the Army of Justice in Arabic, is considered the successor to Jundallah or Soldiers of God. The latter instigated a violent rebellion against the Islamic republic in 2000, leading to a decade-long insurgency in the restive southeast.

    The tide turned in 2010 when Iran executed Jundallah’s leader, Abdolmalek Rigi. His capture, involving a dramatic interception of a flight from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan, marked a significant blow to the insurgent group.

    Jaish al-Adl’s Formation

    Founded in 2012 by militant Salahuddin Farooqui, a vocal opponent of Iran’s support for Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Jaish al-Adl operates from bases in Sistan-Baluchestan and Pakistan. The group garners support from ethnic Baluch tribes, particularly in a region marked by the dissatisfaction of minority Sunni Muslims facing discrimination in Shiite-dominated Iran.

    Bombings, Ambushes, And Attacks On Iran

    Jaish al-Adl has claimed responsibility for numerous bombings, ambushes, and attacks on Iranian security forces, coupled with abductions. Iran labels the organization Jaish al-Zolm, denoting the Army of Injustice in Arabic, accusing it of receiving support from the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

    In October 2013, Jaish al-Adl orchestrated an ambush that resulted in the death of 14 Iranian guards near the Pakistan border. The group justified its actions as a response to the Revolutionary Guards’ involvement in Syria. Iran retaliated with executions and clashes near the frontier town of Mirjaveh.

    In February 2014, the abduction of five Iranian soldiers heightened tensions between Iran and Pakistan, prompting Tehran to contemplate a cross-border raid.

    Jaish al-Adl’s Leadership

    Jaish al-Adl, an ethnic Baloch Sunni group emerging in 2012, is viewed as an offshoot of the designated terrorist organization Jundullah. The group opposes the Shia Iranian government’s support for Bashar al-Assad. Key leaders include Salahuddin Farooqui and Mullah Omar, who commands the group’s camp in Balochistan, Pakistan. Abdul Salam Rigi, a cousin of Jundullah chief Abdolmalek Rigi, plays a significant role within Jaish al-Adl.

    This intricate web of history, violence, and geopolitical tensions surrounding Jaish al-Adl underscores the complexity of the situation on the Iran-Pakistan border.

  • Iran’s Iron Women: Meet Brave Woman Now Leading The Anti-Hijab Protest | world news

    Throughout history, governments worldwide have often sought to suppress dissenting voices. When these voices challenge the policies of Islamic governments, the consequences can be dire. However, some have dared to defy oppressive regimes without fear of the repercussions. One such example is the story of Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, who recently obtained bail in the Mahsa Amini case in 2022, though another case remains pending.

    Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi found themselves in legal trouble due to Iran’s strict dress code for women. According to this regulation, any woman appearing in public spaces must wear a headscarf. In 2022, outspoken journalist Mahsa Amini faced opposition from the Iranian government for challenging the restrictive policies. Amini, known for her independent views, was arrested, and tragically, she died during custody. This incident sparked outrage in Iran.

    Seizing the opportunity, Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, both serving sentences, covered the entire episode as journalists. Their coverage did not sit well with Iranian authorities, leading to legal action against them. The Iranian agencies disapproved of their coverage, resulting in charges filed against both journalists. The court sentenced them, accusing them of playing into the hands of Iran’s staunch enemy, the United States, which poses a threat to Iran’s stability and existence.

    After a year of serving their sentences, Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi have been released from Evin Prison. However, their freedom is short-lived, as they face new charges for appearing in public without a headscarf. In October 2022, during the sentencing, the court made remarks suggesting that both journalists were playing into the hands of the United States, a nation considered a constant threat to Iran. The court handed down a 13-year sentence for Niloofar Hamidi and a 12-year sentence for Elaheh Mohammadi.

    The ordeal highlights the challenges faced by journalists who choose to speak out against oppressive government policies. Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi’s courage in the face of adversity serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in Iran.