Iran’s neighbor in the growing Israel-Iran struggle is far-reaching security, geopolitical and economic implications for Pakistan.
Iran shared a limit of 909 km (560 mi) with Pakistan’s resting Balochistan province. On Monday, Pakistani officials announced that several border crossings with Iran were closed indefinitely.
Tstan in South-West Balochistan and crossings in Gabd-Rimdan are open to Pakistani citizens to return home. On Wednesday, hundreds of Pakistanis who are usually located in Iran cross the Tattani border to move forward in their motherland.
Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to meet US President Donald Trump on Wednesday during his office in Washington. The meeting is considered important in the light of the ongoing Iran-Israel struggle.
Pakistan’s relationship with Iran
The relationship between Sunni Pakistan and Shia-Magority Iran has been complex, with a cross-border area affected by the attacks of Baloch Separatets who are fighting the freedom war against the Pakistani state.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) accused the Central Government of Pakistan of incorrectly exploiting the natural resources of the region.
The BLA has started attacks against the government, armed forces and even Chinese interests in the region for decades.
The Israeli-Iran struggle marks a dangerous turn points for the Middle East geopolitics, but for Pakistan, according to the US-based Pakistan analyst Raza Rumi. For Islamabad, Rumi told DW, “There are implications [anything but] Remote. ,
Rumi said, “As a country with a intimate relationship with Gulf colleagues and Iran, Pakistan wants to maintain neutrality by protecting its strategic interests.”
As the fight between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day on Wednesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they were attacking Iran’s capital Tehran, there was a shocking apprehension in the region.
Increasing conflict and possible collapse of Islamist rule in Tehran can lead to serious security implications for Pakistan. Therefore, separatist attacks in Balochistan can affect Pakistan’s border security and internal stability – to challenge stressful security mechanisms already.
“Baloch region is a prickly issue [in Iran] And a collapse in Tehran can trigger claims of autonomy that will raise Baloch in Pakistan. Iran and Pakistan have been in the Loggerheads on the issue in the past, “Gaffer Hussain, a London -based security expert, told DW.
For analyst Rumi, “Islamabad will have to increase the border monitoring and work carefully in balanced the law enforcement with diplomatic sensitivity to Tehran.”
“A war on the western border [with Iran] For Pakistan is problematic, for its comfortable Balochistan province, “Muhammad Shoaib said, for an assistant professor at Quad-e-Azam University.
Shoaib said that any change in the status quo would be troublesome and a weak governance would so “present a security challenge.”
Economic impact
The growing conflict between Israel and Iran has focused on safety in Hormuz’s straight – a strategic waterway between Iran that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of the Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Against the struggle in the Middle East, specificly around the strainer of the hormuz can disrupt the supply of global oil and drive more prices, Rumi said.
Rumi said, “Like the rest of the world, Pakistan will be severely affected, and the war can lead to large disintegration of oil flow through the hormuz’s strait, leading to an increase in global energy prices.”
As a result of the war, the cost of increasing fuel can disrupt markets and major areas, discovering power generation, transportation and agriculture, can deepen fiscal crisis and put more stress at a weak house.
Referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council, Husson said, “Whether or not Horuz has the ability to block the straight in Iran can be seen … but it will embrace the entry area, including the GCC nation,” referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Micks.
Shoaib, however, seems to have “Iranian conflict, especially, will affect the province of Balochistan where there is an important part of the population [engaged in] Informal trade of oil and other items. ,
Communal tension
According to Rumi, Pakistan – Mainly Sunni Muslim countries where Shia Muslims create 15% of the population – can face a possible spillover of communal stresses and the country can see renewed propagation, targeted violence and pseudo -activities.
Rumi said, “If the story of war is influenced by religious symbolism and communal rhetoric, it can be dangerous.”
Edited by: Keith Walker
