Home »Editorials » Unease along Pak-Iran border

Iran's unwarranted actions along its border with Pakistan are alarming. In a latest development, an Iranian drone that intruded 3 to 4 kilometres inside Pakistani territory in the Panjgur area of Balochistan had to be taken down by the PAF. This is the same area where last week Iranian border security force had fired several mortar shells, at least one of which exploded. Luckily, there was no loss of life or property as shells landed in an inhabited area. But two weeks earlier a man was killed when an Iranian shell hit a vehicle, also in the Panjgur district. Prior to that, a part of the Chagai region was targeted following the killing of 10 Iranian border guards by militants of the terrorist organisation, Jaish al-Adl, said to be using Pakistani soil to launch attacks into the Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan, adjoining Pakistani Balochistan. At the time, Iran's army chief had also threatened Pakistan with dire consequences. Such provocative rhetoric and actions can only vitiate the atmosphere between the two brotherly countries which have no territorial or political issues of contention between them.

For its part, Islamabad has wisely been maintaining calm. Lest it cause public anger, downing of the drone was acknowledged by the Foreign Office at least three days after the social media reported the news along with pictures. Even so, the FO spokesman tried to play down the incident saying the drone was shot down for being 'unmarked', implying thereby that one with Iranian markings would have been treated differently. While Tehran's concerns are understandable, it needs to recognise that things in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, which shares over a long border with Iran, are not completely under government control. In fact, foreign-backed insurgents and violent extremist groups there frequently target Pakistani security and police personnel as well as civilians. Jaish al-Adl, an Iran-centric sectarian outfit, may well be using some of the ungoverned spaces in the province to attack Iranian border guards or carry out other acts of terrorism across the border. Back in 2010, Jundallah, suspected of acting at the behest of a certain foreign power, was involved in similar activities. Pakistan had arrested and handed its chief, Abdel Malik Rigi, to Iran where he was hanged. Also active in the border region are smugglers who would have no qualms about lending a helping hand to terrorists. The situation being what it is, both countries need to join hands to deal with the common threat all these elements present to their respective internal security as well as good neighbourly relations.

During the last one year, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Hassan Rouhani have met on five different occasions, twice in one another's country and other times on the sidelines of international moots, expressing mutual interest in strengthening diplomatic relations and enhancing trade to $ 5 billion over a four-year period. More to the point, last March Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif visited Islamabad and held meetings with the Prime Minister as well as the army chief, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, during which the two sides agreed to boost security cooperation in the border areas. There have been several follow-up exchanges on different levels. Yet the recurring border violations by Iran show misunderstandings persist. The two sides must do all that is necessary resolve the situation. The existing border commission ought to meet more frequently than has been the case, so that timely action is taken to prevent any unpleasant incident.



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