Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency

Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency
Part of Balochistan conflict
Datec. 2004–present
LocationSistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Iran
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Border Guard
Revoluionary Guards
Ministry of Intelligence
Unknown
Jundallah was active in 2005–11, Harakat Ansar established in 2012 and merged with Hizbul-Furqan and formed Ansar Al-Furqan in late 2013.,[1] Jaish ul-Adl and Ansar Al-Furqan founded in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

The Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency, part of the Balochistan conflict, began approximately in 2004[2] and is an ongoing low-intensity[3] asymmetric conflict[4] in Sistan and Baluchestan Province between Iran and several Baloch Sunni militiant organizations[5] which are designated as terrorist by Iran.[6]

Belligerents

Iran

Sunni Baloch rebels

Analysis

Role of Pakistan

Pakistan is Iran's neighbour, sharing borders of its Balochistan which is base of Baloch nationalist separatist groups. These Pakistani Baloch militia groups are allied with Iranian groups. Iran and Pakistan historically have a strategic alliance fighting these groups. However, Iran has accused Pakistan of supporting insurgency in Iran several times. In February 2014 the two states signed a pact sharing responsibility for combating militants operating across the border.[2]

Motivations of the groups

Analysts believe that aim of insurgents may differ from separatism to religious motivations, but they are not entirely clear. The leaders of the groups have maintained different positions.[2]

Allegations of foreign involvement

Iran has long accused foreign states supporting insurgency in Sistan and Baluchestan. Several sources such as the ABC News, The New York Times, Daily Telegraph and Seymour Hersh have reported that Jundallah has received support from the United States.[13][14][15][16][17] Israel,[18] Saudi Arabia,[19] United Kingdom[20] and Sweden[21] are other states allegedly sponsoring the group.

Mashregh News which has close ties to the IRGC, has accused Qatar for supporting both Jaish ul-Adl and Harakat Ansar Iran, alongside Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Taliban.[22] Harakat Ansar Iran has made an appeal on Saudi Arabian websites for funding.[23]

The conflict has also interpreted as part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict.[24]

References

  1. "Iran Sunni Baloch Insurgents: "Union With Hizbul-Furqan Strengthens Our Front Against Safavids"". EA WorldView. December 21, 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ur Rehman, Zia (May 2014), "The Baluch insurgency: linking Iran to Pakistan" (PDF), The Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre
  3. Roksana Bahramitash, Eric Hooglund (2011). Gender in Contemporary Iran: Pushing the Boundaries. Taylor & Francis, p. 158.
  4. Poyraz, Serdar (November 2009), "Turkish-Iranian Relations: A Wider Perspective" (PDF), SETA FOUNDATION FOR POLITICAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH
  5. "Volatile Sistan-Baluchistan Region Is Base for Insurgents", Wall Street Journal, 19 October 2009
  6. Cummins, Chip (April 6, 2015), "IRGC wipes out terrorist cell in Sistan-Baluchistan", Radio Zamaneh
  7. "Iran trapped in a ring of unrest". Asia Times. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  8. "Heavily armed "terrorist" team arrested in Sistan-Baluchistan". Radio Zamaneh. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  9. "Iran calls for return of abducted border guards held in Pakistan". The Telegraph. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  10. "Harkat ul-Ansar (HAI)". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  11. "Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice)". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  12. "Ansar Al Furqan". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  13. Lowther, William (2007-02-25). "US funds terror groups to sow chaos in Iran". Telegraph (London). Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  14. Shipman, Tim (2007-05-27). "Bush sanctions 'black ops' against Iran". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  15. Brian Ross and Christopher Isham Report: (2007-04-03). "ABC News Exclusive: The Secret War Against Iran - The Blotter". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  16. Hersh, Seymour M. (2009-01-07). "Annals of National Security: Preparing the Battlefield". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  17. Risen, James; Apuzzo, Matt (9 Nov 2014). "Port Authority Officer Kept Sources With Ties to Iran Attacks". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 Nov 2014.
  18. False Flag By MARK PERRY, foreignpolicy.com, 12 January 2010
  19. Zoglin, Richard (1987-10-12). "Did A Dead Man Tell No Tales? - Printout". TIME. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  20. "One Programmes - Panorama, Obama and the Ayatollah". BBC. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  21. "HDNet Original Programming - Transcripts". Hd.net. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  22. "نگرانی سلفی ها از مدل اهل سنت ایران؛ قطر در جنوب شرق ایران به دنبال چیست/ گروهک انصار ایران چگونه شکل گرفت؟" (in Persian). Mashregh News. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  23. "Pakistani Jihadis Abduct Iranian Soldiers". The Daily Beast. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  24. "Breaking the Resistance with Terrorism and Proxy Wars". New Eastern Outlook. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
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