A suicide bombing in Iran last week has prompted the Shiite-dominated theocratic democracy to issue its most stern warnings yet to its neighbor, Pakistan, to stop supporting Sunni terror groups, namely Jundallah, in the Baluchestan region that spills over between East Iran and West Pakistan.
Here is an excerpt from the Iranian Press TV, based on a domestic news service:
Speaking to Mehr news agency on Sunday, Deputy Head of Iran’s armed forces headquarters Brigadier-General Seyyed Massoud Jazayeri said such attempts carried out by the enemy were aimed at causing ethnic strife in Iran.
“Terrorist activities particularly in borderline regions, threats and psychological warfare, soft war and even certain military measures in border regions are attempts at replacing unity with discord in our country.” Brig. Gen. Jazayeri said.
The remarks came one week after a number of top IRGC commanders and Shia and Sunni tribal leaders were killed in a suicide bombing in the borderline region of Pishin in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province.
The Pakistan-based Jundullah terrorist group, which is believed to be closely affiliated with the al Qaeda organization, has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
When asked about the role of foreign countries in the recent terrorist attempt, the Iranian army official said certain foreign countries had been involved in the bombing.
“The recent terrorist activities in Sistan-Baluchestan were conducted with the help of the Americans, the British, an Arab country and one of our eastern neighbors. We are well aware of such matters and necessary counter-measures will definitely be taken in response to such acts,” Brig. Gen. Jazayeri explained .
Hmmm. Any guesses as to which “Arab country” the general is alluding to?
Given the reports over the last years, especially by Seymour Hersh, of U.S. efforts to join Saudi Arabia in pushing Sunni radical groups in Iran and Lebanon to destabilize the Shiite majority factions of that country – hmmm – what Arab country could possibly be a suspect?
I have written in the past about the Bush administration’s misguided adventures in Iran with their backing of the Mujahideen e-Khalq, but if Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are now focusing on supporting a Sunni terror campaign in Iran, how precisely does this do anything to reduce the overall severity of the Sunni radicalism that is, after all, the bane of most American focus on anti-terrorism.
Is it possible that American strategies to weaken Iran are, in fact, weakening American strategies for counter-terrorism? If yes, then it is not the first time that Real Politik has forced the United States to have its Right hand stab the Left. Ouch – another 1980s moment!
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