Iran Pakistan Strikes

Why in news?

India backed Iran on its strikes on alleged terror camps in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province, calling it an act of “self-defence”.

What is the issue?

• The issue - Iran has carried out a 3^rd strike in reprisal for the January 3 terror attack in Kerman that killed over 80 people.
• Baloch people, who live in both Pakistan and Iran, are attacked by both countries leading to rebellion across the border.
• Iran struck 3 countries in one day namely Iraq, Syria and Pakistan.
• India’s stand - India supported Iran’s action in Pakistan as “self-defence” against terrorism.
• It indicates India’s support for Iran despite the growing tensions in West Asia between Iran and the U.S.

• Role of Pakistan - Pakistan conducted a series of specifically targeted precision military strikes in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province as part of an operation called “Marg Bar Sarmachar”.
• The tit-for-tat strikes are the highest-profile cross-border intrusions in recent years and have raised alarm over wider instability in the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas.

Why India’s role is significant in Iran-Pakistan strike?

• Strategic location- Balochistan is a region that spans across Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, and has a strategic position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, a vital waterway for global oil trade.
• Connectivity- Balochistan also has access to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, making it a potential hub for maritime connectivity and trade.
• Geopolitical dynamics- Balochistan is home to Baloch minority which is strategically important for the global powers that are competing for influence in Central Asia and the Middle East.
• New great game- It refers to the rivalry and competition among regional and global powers for influence and resources in Central and South Asia, especially in Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries.
• China factor- China has a strategic interest in Gwadar, a port city in Balochistan, as part of its Belt and Road Initiative and its naval ambitions in the Indian Ocean.
• Security concerns- Balochistan’s proximity to Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime has recently taken over, adds to the complexity and uncertainty to the regional security dynamics.
• Change in foreign policy- India as a rising power with growing economic and security interests in the region, needs to rethink its traditional neutrality and passive approach in the Middle East and Central Asia.
• India-Iran ties- They have cooperated in the energy sector despite US sanctions on Iran, India has developed a meaningful dimension with Iran.
• Chabahar port- India is involved in the planning and building of the Chabahar port, intended to allow it to bypass the overland route through Pakistan for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• Chabahar directly competes with Pakistan’s China funded Gwadar port, keeping a check on growing China’s influence in the neighbourhood region.

References

1. Indian Express- India’s stake deepen in Iran Pakistan strikes
2. Indian Express- Iran, Pakistan and Baloch militancy