Noshki and Panjgur incidents, footprints on the way to Iran
The attacks by the banned Baloch militant group on the Frontier Corps camps on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, in the Pakistani city of Noshki, south of the Balochistan capital, Quetta, and in the district headquarters of Panjgur district, about 500 km from Quetta, are undoubtedly a matter of concern. Ran a strong wave.
Within the two districts, Frontier Corps camps are located in the city, where the offices of the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, senior police officials, district government hospitals and other government offices are located.
The town of Noshki is approximately 25 kilometers from the Afghan border. Panjgur is about 50 km from the Iranian border. Panjgur shares a border with Iran of more than 200 km.
Balach Murree, head of the banned Baloch Liberation Army, had moved to Sirlath and died in Afghanistan. The first attempt at resistance after the formation of Pakistan was made by the brother of Khan of Kalat Mir Ahmad Yar Khan Were Agha Abdul Karim returned after receiving no support from the Afghan government. Among them was the full support of Sardar Dawood and the Russian-backed communist Afghan governments in Afghanistan, behind the Baloch and Pashtun political and resistance movements of the 1970s.
Major Baloch Pashtun leaders and warlords sought refuge in Afghanistan. As a result, the current resistance began in the early 2000's, with the US occupation of Afghanistan and the establishment of India's political and intelligence network there, with large-scale support from these groups.
Gradually many groups were formed and a large number of militants migrated to Afghanistan, all the governments of Kabul formed under the American umbrella followed the Indian policies. Negotiations with the United States in Doha on February 29, 2020 changed the landscape after the US and NATO withdrawal on August 15, 2021. Of course, there are still people involved in various aspects of the Baloch resistance but they do not have official patronage. Nor are religious extremists from Pakistan sponsored by Kabul.
The new Afghan government does not want to get into any conflict with the Taliban, TTP and Baloch extremists. It wants to allow them to stay in Afghanistan but does not allow them to use its territory or engage in military activities. Of course, attacks by religious groups on Afghan soil are still taking place, and transportation has not been stopped, partly because of the Afghan government's economic woes. Also, the structure of Pak border areas is such that armed groups can use it for their own purposes.
So the stronger the new Kabul government, the more its authority will be ensured across the country. The Kabul government is bound by the Doha Agreement not to use its territory against any country. The Afghan government has completely eliminated the long-standing networks of New Delhi and Iran by incorporating the northern provinces, including Panjshir, into its territory.
After the withdrawal of Russian forces, Iran gained deep influence in the northern regions of Afghanistan, the Iranian spy agency spread its vast network, General Soleimani had also worked in Afghanistan, the US invasion of Afghanistan and the fall of Mullah Omar's government. Later, along with India, Iran also became an important player. After the US military occupation of Iraq, Iran's sphere of influence spread to Iraq, then in the face of growing resistance inside Iraq against US and Iranian interests, Iran established militias consisting of Afghan residents, which were used against anti-government groups in Iraq and Syria. Keep happening Young people from different parts of Pakistan also joined these militias.
Surprisingly, after the US invasion of Afghanistan, members of Al Qaeda also migrated to Iran, due to the presence of about one thousand Baloch fighters in Iran during the US occupation of Afghanistan. As a result, about 700 more fighters moved to Iran on August 15, 2021, even after the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. Even about 100 people affiliated with the Lyari gang in Karachi have taken refuge in Iran.
Many Baloch commanders, including the head of the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, frequently visit Iran. Also, instructions are given for operations inside Pakistan, there is also cooperation with India, Indian intelligence agency "RAW" is also providing aid and cooperation to these fighters inside Iran, they are given money, through facilitators. The arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav on the Iranian border is a great example.
It seems that the fabric and footprints of some recent major events have been found in Iran, although there are many camps of Baloch militants in the mountain ranges of Balochistan. Are It should also be noted that Iran provides support to Baloch militants through its "Basej" militia. Under the Revolutionary Guards, this militia is spread all over Iran. This force is used for internal security, training of children and their military training, monitoring and dealing with anti-revolutionary elements.
In the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan, which borders Pakistan, it works alongside the border security forces. In these border areas, the militia's personnel are local Iranian Baloch who support the militants. The people of the border areas of Iran and Balochistan have the same language and nationality, they have relations, they have economic and trade relations, the populations are also connected in different places. In October 2018, the US government also banned the "Basij" force. The attack on the forces in Ketch on January 25, 2022 in which 10 soldiers were killed, then the serious attacks on Noshki and Panjgur are also seen in this context.
Bashir Zeb, head of the Aslam Achho faction of the banned BLA, leaders of the banned Baloch Liberation Front, Baloch Republican Army and other organizations are also reported to be visiting Iran. These groups have carried out attacks from within Iran's borders and are seeking refuge.
Pakistan, following an attack in Ketch in December 2018, summoned the Iranian ambassador to Islamabad, Mehdi Honar Manddoost, to the Foreign Office. Protests against the use of anti-Pakistan record have been recorded, knowing why Pakistan's attitude is based on leniency and expediency while Iran has repeatedly reacted strongly against Pakistan, Iranian forces have repeatedly entered Pakistan's territory, people have been abducted, Missile strikes have hit the population with mortar shells. Until a few years ago, drone flights were common within Pakistan's borders. This was stopped when the Pakistan Air Force shot down an Iranian drone in June 2017.
Even though Iranian military officials have made serious threats through the media for operations inside Pakistan's borders, Pakistan's attitude has been one of cooperation, as exemplified in June 2008 by Abdul Hamid Reiki, the brother of Jundallah leader Abdul Malik Reiki. Has been handed over, which was later executed by Iran.
In view of these difficulties, Pakistan also started fencing the 909 km long border with Iran after the Afghan border in 2019. A total of 1080 km long iron and barbed wire fencing is a costly project. So far 67% of the work has been completed. The Noshki, Panjgur attacks were carried out by the Fidayeen unit of the Majeed Brigade of this group. These were suicide attacks, unlike attacks on Chinese engineers in Chaghi in 2018, Chinese Consulate in Karachi, PC Hotel in Gwadar in 2019 and Karachi Stock Exchange in 2020. The Noshki and Panjgur attacks were horrific. These attacks have broken the intelligence and security siege.
The Noshki operation was completed by the morning of February 3 while the FC camp in Panjgur could not be cleared for the next 3 days. Curfew was in place in both the cities. 9 and 7 militants were killed in Panjgur, which was confirmed by the group itself by releasing names and photos. Nine security personnel, including two officers, were killed in the encounter. The ISPR confirmed the deaths of five personnel in Panjgur and four in Noshki.
Therefore, there is a need for dialogue, especially within Balochistan, where real political parties should be encouraged. Violation of rights. There are reasons for the deterioration of peace in Balochistan. If an artificial political party and its provincial government, whose women parliamentarians are addicted to corruption, are imposed, then the sentiments and opinions of the people will not remain positive at all? Therefore, there is a need to harmonize public opinion within Baloch society, which is not possible without permanent and meaningful constitutional, political and economic measures.