THIS is with reference to the report ‘Pakistan, Iran to enforce pacts for terror eradication’ (Jan 30). All is well that ends well, goes the saying, and best summarises the recent upheaval in the relationship between the two countries. Having said that, what made Iran initiate a fight over nothing remains a mystery. There has been a lot of conjecture over the last few days, but no one knows for sure what the trigger point was.

One possibility is that the Iranian leadership wanted to divert attention from some domestic issues that were putting pressure on it. The theocratic regime in Iran has not been as popular as it has generally tried to portray to the world since the 1979 revolution. The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died while she was in the custody of the so-called ‘morality police’ for violating dress code, and subsequent anger in the public, proved to be a catalyst that sparked mass unrest in the country. Since then, the Iranian leadership has been under intense internal pressure.

Tension within the boundaries has never been in the best interests of any imposed leadership, which tends to try to calm things down by creating tension on the borders. This is the most common, done-to-death trick to distract the attention of the masses.

The regime has kept on chanting ‘Marg Bar Israel and America’ (Death to Israel and the United States) for years, but knew it could do nothing beyond raising slogans. As expected, that slogan turned hollow over time.

The recent chaos in the Middle East, especially the Israeli brutality against the Palestinians in Gaza, has added to the tension in Iran, as its proxy Hezbollah is believed to be supporting the Houthis in the latter’s bid to attack in the Red Sea. The US and the United Kingdom have already struck Houthi bases in Yemen, and there have been people talking about the West planning to turn its guns towards Iran.

With pressure building inside the country, and the leadership feeling the heat in regional terms, it perhaps made sense to start firing missiles at neigh- bouring countries on this pretext or that. These were acts of panic and paranoia on the part of Iranian leadership, which wanted to somehow flex its muscles; muscles that were fast losing their power and potency.

Regardless of what the intentions and insecurities were, Iran had no business taking out its frustrations on Pakistan. Once it did, Pakistan was left with no choice but to give a befitting response. It was a matter of sovereignty and honour.

Pakistan may have been an energy-starved country facing dire economic and political crises, but it is certainly not Iraq or Syria. It has the potential and capability to hit back hard whenever it is hit in an unprovoked strike.

One hopes that Iran would have learned its lesson well enough to desist from any further adventurism. The region cannot afford to have any escalation at all.

Bahadar Ali Khan
Toronto, Canada

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024