ISRAEL, confident in its military might and backed by unwavering support from the USA, is determined to address Iran’s perceived threats decisively. Recent high-intensity attacks on Iranian interests in the Middle East, along with strikes on symbols of power within Iran itself, have left the nation and its leadership in shock. The devastating loss of lives, including high-ranking officials like Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy General Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi in attacks such as the missile strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus and the terror attack on the Rask Police Headquarters, has heightened tensions further.
The shocking events have injected a sense of urgency and determination into Iran’s response. The nation finds itself at a critical juncture, faced with the imperative to defend its interests and protect its people against further aggression. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there remains a steadfast resolve to stand strong in the face of adversity and to seek justice for those who have fallen victim to these brutal acts of violence. The attacks have rocked the foundation of Iranian sovereignty and authority, leaving the nation reeling in disbelief and anguish. The Iranian people are struggling to come to terms with the enormity of these losses, while their leaders, both spiritual and formal, are grappling with the profound implications for national security and stability. It appears that Israel has larger plans and is part of a broader conspiracy to draw Iran into the conflict by employing provocative tactics, whether Iran wants to engage or not. This could provide Israel with a legitimate excuse to launch a full-scale attack on Iran. The deadly attacks are perpetrated and masterminded by Israel. Logically, Israel should focus on containing the spread of war in the Middle East, where it is already fully engaged in conflicts against Palestine, including Gaza and the West Bank, the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Daesh in Syria. Therefore, it should have avoided involving Iran in the theater of war.
In barbaric and devastating attacks, Israel has martyred nearly 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza and continues unabated with complete impunity. It seems hell-bent on neutralizing Iran’s nuclear threat once and for all, eliminating its missiles, rockets, and drone capabilities, and reducing its ability to seriously jeopardize Israeli safety and security. Additionally, Israel aims to lessen Iran’s ability to disrupt the global food and oil supply chain and eradicate its influence in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. Given the likelihood of increased hostilities between Iran and Israel and the potential impact on Pakistan’s security, sovereignty, and safety, Pakistan should take these growing threats very seriously. If these assumptions come to pass, Pakistan should use all available diplomatic, political, and international communication resources to protect the country’s vital interests. Iran, furious over the unprovoked attack on its Embassy in Syria and the subsequent terrorist attack in Rask, intensified by the recent bombing in Karman province, has vowed revenge after each incident. Israel, awaiting Iran’s retaliation for its missile and drone attacks, responded with lethal strikes on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus and orchestrated the terrorist attack in Rask. This prompted Iran to pledge a severe response, escalating tensions with a stern warning that it’s time to teach Israel a lesson.
After the attack in Karman on January 4, the Iranian reaction was swift. On January 16, using a combination of ballistic missiles and drones, Iran struck targets in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan allegedly associated with Israeli intelligence and anti-regime terrorist groups. Unlike the other two countries, Pakistan did not wait, and after 24 hours launched proportional, highly precise and finally calibrated intelligence-based strikes, against hideouts of armed groups in the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran and restored the geopolitical and security balance. This could lead to a dangerous expansion of the Middle East war theatre to other parts of the world, causing supply chain disruptions, a spike in the price of petroleum, an increase in the price of commodities and a general lack of certainty and predictability that would particularly harm the countries with the weakest economies like Pakistan.
The longstanding adversaries, Iran and Israel, have previously exercised caution, preferring to target each other’s proxies in third countries rather than engaging directly. However, tensions have now escalated to the point where the world may soon witness heightened geopolitical tensions as Iran and Israel contemplate direct actions against each other. Pakistan, grappling with securing its extensive borders with Afghanistan and India, alongside the persistent threat of cross-border terrorism, would face significant repercussions if the conflict in the Middle East expands to its border with Iran. Given the likelihood of increased hostilities between Iran and Israel and the potential impact on the nation’s security, sovereignty and safety, Pakistan should take these growing threats very seriously. If these assumptions come to pass, it should use all available diplomatic, political and international communication resources to protect the nation’s pivotal interests. This implies that America, an Israeli ally, will once again try to seek military bases in Pakistan and threaten to put the country in the Stone Age or economically and financially choke it if it refuses. Pakistan will once more be inundated with secret service operatives, private contractors, non-state players, Jihadi groups, foreign criminals and suppliers and dealers of weaponry.
—The writer is editor, book ambassador political analyst and author of several books based in Islamabad.
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