Iran strikes again near Pakistan border: Is Islamabad’s peace mediator role losing credibility?

Iran strikes again near Pakistan border as action against Jaish-al-Adl raises questions over Islamabad’s credibility, with cross-border militancy complicating regional peace efforts.

New Delhi, 25 April | 2026: Tensions along the Iran-Pakistan border have escalated after Iranian security forces claimed to have neutralised an active cell of the militant group Jaish al-Adl in the Rask region of Sistan-Baluchistan province. The operation reportedly targeted militants who had infiltrated from the Pakistani side of the border.

According to Iranian reports, several militants were killed during the operation. Tehran has repeatedly accused the group of carrying out attacks against its security forces and destabilising the region. The development comes at a time when Pakistan has been projecting itself as a peace intermediary in the backdrop of rising tensions involving Iran and the United States, raising fresh doubts about Islamabad’s credibility.

Formed in 2012, Jaish al-Adl is a Sunni extremist outfit active along the Iran-Pakistan border. Iran often refers to it as “Jaish al-Zulm” and links it to unrest among the Baloch population in the Sistan-Baluchistan region. The group has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Iranian forces, drawing attention to ethnic and sectarian tensions in the area.

The Baloch issue continues to remain a sensitive factor in Iran-Pakistan relations. Local grievances, combined with regional power rivalries, have made the situation increasingly complex. Iran has previously accused countries such as the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia of backing such groups, allegations those nations have denied.

Relations between Iran and Pakistan had already been strained after missile strikes earlier in January 2024, when both countries targeted each other’s territories in response to militant activities. These incidents had significantly widened the trust deficit between the two neighbours.

Despite Pakistan’s attempts to play a mediating role in regional diplomacy, continued militant activity near its border is casting a shadow over its position. Recent diplomatic engagements, including visits by Pakistan’s military leadership to Tehran, have not fully eased tensions, with Iran reportedly showing reluctance to re-engage in talks under perceived external pressure.

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