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.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017