As Israel's war in Gaza continues unabated and the fire play spreads to West Asian countries such as Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and the Red Sea as a continuation of Zionist atrocities, the conflict broke between Iran and Pakistan is raising concerns about the spread of the war. Last Tuesday evening, two children were killed in an attack by drones and mortars in Pakistan's Balochistan province, said to be the centre of anti-Iranian Jaish-al-Adl militants. In response to the incident, Pakistan's counter-attack killed seven people in the anti-Pakistani terrorist bases in Iran. Pakistan's counter-attack was after the cancellation of diplomatic relations and trade fair participation. The attack, which took place while the two countries were in talks on peace and non-proliferation of terrorism, created a big shock internationally. Iran's midnight lightning attack on Pakistan comes while their navies hold a joint military exercise in the Strait of Hormuz and Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meet at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The day before, Iran had carried out airstrikes on some sites in Iraq and Syria. That is why there is concern that the expansion of Iran's attack, which has an indirect role in the Gaza war, will make the conflict out of control. Iran's explanation was that the attack was not aimed at civilians but at the bases of Jaish-al-Adl, a Sunni militant group operating in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
Jaish-al-Adl, whom Iran accuses of having American and Israeli backing, is one of several splinter groups formed from the extinct group Jundullah after its founder Abdolmalek Rigi - a Balochi rebel- was hanged by Iran in 2010. Pakistan's counter-attack is based on the same counter-argument, like an eye for an eye. Islamabad's explanation is that it targeted seven centres of the terrorist group Balochistan Liberation Force after reaching 80 kilometres into the Iranian soil adjacent to the Pakistan border. The land of the Baloch tribe is a land shared by the countries of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. This group is concentrated in Balochistan in Pakistan and Sistan-Balochistan region in Iran. The struggle carried out by Baloch nationalists for basic necessities and civil rights gradually evolved into a rebellion for freedom. Among these, Jaish-al-Adl in Pakistan frequently conducts attacks in Iran and Sarmachar guerrillas of BLF are active in Iran and Pakistan. Jaish-al-Adl has been accused of several terrorist attacks in Iran along the Pakistan border. The last such incident was the killing of 11 policemen in Iran's Rask County last month. At that time, Iran's foreign minister had alleged that the Jaish armed group had entered Iran's Sistan from Panjgur in Balochistan. Iran's attack on Tuesday targeted the homes of Jaish activists there.
Pakistan also accuses that Sarmachar guerrillas are organizing attacks against Pakistan from unofficial bases in Iran. Islamabad claims that several Pakistani soldiers were killed in two terrorist attacks by them on Pakistani troops last year. The activities of armed groups are a headache for both countries. While both parties have their rivals around and outside, their interventions are also fueling the tension in the region. Borders should be respected and maintained. Cross-border terrorist attacks violating it cannot be tolerated. Countries such as China and India, which are the powers in the region, have emphasized this. To combat terrorism, all nations must refrain from the underworld activities of harbouring and fostering terrorist and armed groups that pose a threat to others on their own soil for narrow interests. The flowery words in discussions are not enough; it must be reflected in practice. When nations do not have the will to do so, untoward incidents like the Iran-Pakistan conflict will continue. When the conflict spreads across West Asia, the world expects wisdom and diplomacy from all leaders not to ignite a fire but to put it out.