In a recent development, Iranian military forces have reportedly killed Ismail Shahbakhsh, a senior commander of the Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) militant group, along with some of his associates, within Pakistani territory. This incident follows an armed clash, occurring a month after both Iran and Pakistan engaged in air strikes against each other. Jaish al-Adl, designated a “terrorist” organization by Iran, is a Sunni extremist group operating in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan and has been responsible for numerous attacks on Iranian security forces.
Tensions between the two nations escalated when, in January, they conducted missile strikes targeting ‘terror units’ in each other’s territories. Iran conducted strikes in Pakistan on January 16, claiming to destroy two crucial Jaish al-Adl headquarters. In response, Pakistan accused Iran of violating its sovereignty, withdrew its ambassador, and protested against the attacks. The situation worsened on January 17 when Pakistan launched retaliatory strikes within Iran, targeting hideouts of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF).
However, despite the military actions, both countries had publicly announced an agreement to enhance security cooperation just a month before these incidents. In a joint press conference, Pakistan Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed their intent to swiftly resolve “misunderstandings,” cooperate in combating terrorism, and address mutual concerns.
The conflict between the two nations showcased a complex dynamic, with diplomatic agreements seemingly at odds with recent military actions. Nevertheless, both Iran and Pakistan eventually agreed to the return of ambassadors and committed to mutual efforts for de-escalation.
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