Iran-Pakistan War Explained: Why Are They Striking Each Other’s Territory; What's The Middle East Connection?

In an unprecedented escalation of hostilities between the neighbors, strikes on each other's territories have been conducted by both Pakistan and Iran, occurring at a time when tensions have sharply risen across the Middle East and beyond.

The volatile border, spanning approximately 900 kilometers (560 miles), is shared by the two countries, with Pakistan's Balochistan province on one side and Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province on the other. Militants in the restive Baloch region along the border have been a long-standing challenge for both nations.

While they share a common separatist enemy, it is highly unusual for either side to attack militants on each other's soil. The latest strikes coincide with attacks launched by Iran's allies and proxies in the Middle East - collectively known as the "axis of resistance" - against Israeli forces and its allies amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

Here's what you need to know.

What Happened?

The fast-moving sequence of events began on Tuesday when strikes on Pakistan's Balochistan province were conducted by Iran, resulting in the killing of two children and the injury of several others, according to Pakistani authorities.

Iran claimed to have "only targeted Iranian terrorists on the soil of Pakistan" and asserted that no Pakistani nationals were targeted.The strike provoked anger in Pakistan, which labeled it "an egregious violation of international law and the spirit of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran," reported CNN.

Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency reported that the target was the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl, known in Iran as Jaish al-Dhulm, or Army of Justice. The group, operating on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border, has previously claimed responsibility for attacks against Iranian targets, aiming for independence for Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province.

Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation with a majority Sunni population, retaliated two days later with what it described as "a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes" on alleged separatist hideouts in Sistan and Baluchestan.

Announcing the strikes on Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry stated that a number of militants were killed. Tasnim reported at least 10 people, all Pakistani nationals, were killed, and the deputy governor of Sistan and Baluchestan mentioned an investigation into how those individuals had "settled in the village."

Pakistan, expressing long-standing complaints about separatist fighters having "safe havens and sanctuaries" in Iran, asserted it was compelled to take action with Thursday's strikes.

Iran-Pakistan War: Why The Strikes Happened Now?

The struggle against separatists operating on either side of the borders between Pakistan and Iran has been ongoing, with deadly clashes occurring regularly over the years. Last month, Iran accused Jaish al-Adl militants of storming a police station in Sistan and Baluchestan, resulting in the deaths of 11 Iranian police officers, as reported by Tasnim.

What is highly unusual, however, is the willingness of each side to target locations across those borders without prior notification to the other. This situation is unfolding against the backdrop of Israel's bombardment of Gaza, causing ripple effects throughout the region.

Experts suggest that the larger regional conflict may have emboldened Iran to take a more proactive approach in pursuing targets beyond its borders, particularly as the United States navigates a delicate balance between de-escalating hostilities and asserting military strength to deter further actions by Iran, reported CNN.

Notably, the day before the strikes in Pakistan, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraq and Syria, claiming to target a spy base for Israeli forces and "anti-Iran terror groups."

Concurrently, intense fighting persists between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah along the Lebanon border, and the U.S. is engaged in conflict with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have attacked ships in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel's assault on Gaza.

According to Karim Sadjadpour, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, if Iran and its proxies are not censured, there is no cost for them to continue pursuing such activities, as reported by CNN.

He noted that Iran's dominant position in the Middle East allows it to benefit from regional instability and fill power vacuums, serving its main goals of empowering Palestinians and countering American influence in the region.

Meanewhile, retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO supreme allied commander, stated that the various hostilities reflect Iran's ambition to cement its role as a leader in the region, seeking regional hegemony, according to CNN.

He noted that Iran feels the need to strike back and assert itself when the United States and Israel are present, especially during Israel's campaign against Hamas.

What's with the border conflict?

• The Baloch people, also spelled Baluch, inhabit the region where Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran intersect, demonstrating a fiercely independent streak and harboring resentment toward being ruled by both Islamabad and Tehran.
• Insurgencies have persisted across the porous border region for decades, fueled by the Baloch people's desire for independence.
• Despite the area's richness in natural resources, Baloch separatists contend that their communities, among the region's poorest, have witnessed minimal wealth distribution, as per multiple media reports.
• Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area, has experienced a series of deadly attacks in recent years, driven by a longstanding insurgency seeking independence and protesting the state's perceived monopoly and exploitation of mineral resources.
• Iran has also grappled with insurgencies from its Kurdish, Arab, and Baloch minorities over its history.
• Jaish al-Adl, one of several separatist groups within Iran, originated from a larger Sunni militant group called Jundallah, which fractured in 2010 after its leader was executed by Iran.
• Designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, Jaish al-Adl often targets Iranian security personnel, government officials, and Shia civilians, focusing on Sistan-Baluchestan.
• In 2015, the group claimed responsibility for an attack that killed eight Iranian border guards, with militants crossing into Iran from Pakistan, according to Dawn.
• In 2019, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing targeting an Iranian military bus, resulting in at least 23 casualties in Sistan-Baluchestan, a
• A day after Iran's strikes on Pakistan, Jaish al-Adl asserted responsibility for an attack on an Iranian military vehicle in Sistan and Baluchestan.

Is there a diplomatic solution to the Iran-Pakistan War?

• A diplomatic spat ensued after Iran's Tuesday strikes, leading Pakistan to recall its ambassador from Iran and suspend all high-level visits.
• In response to Pakistan's strikes on Thursday, Iran demanded "an immediate explanation" and conducted a large-scale military exercise off its southwest coast.
• Turkey, India, China, and the European Union expressed concerns and urged restraint between Iran and Pakistan.
• The US State Department spokesperson urged caution, emphasizing the risk of increased conflict in the region but clarified that the flare-up was not connected to Gaza.
• Whether Iran or Pakistan would escalate hostilities over separatist groups remains unclear; both sides hinted at a desire to avoid further escalation in their statements.
• Pakistan's Foreign Ministry referred to Iran as a "brotherly country" and emphasized the need for "joint solutions."
• Iran's foreign minister described Pakistan as a "friendly country" and asserted that their strikes were proportionate and aimed solely at militants.