QUETTA: The deadly attack happened in Zahedan, the capital of Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province, as per the Iranian state media. In this attack, at least five civilians, including a mother and child, were killed and 13 others injured. The assault, has spread fears of rising militancy across the broader Balochistan region.
The gunmen threw a hand grenade inside the building before attempting to storm it disguised as visitors. Iranian news agency IRNA, citing senior police officials and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), confirmed that three attackers were also killed during the operation.
The armed group Jaish al-Adl, which operates from Pakistani Balochistan but remains active in Iranian territory, claimed responsibility for the assault.
The Baloch human rights organization HAALVSH witnessed and quoted that the attackers directly targeted judiciary staff and security personnel, indicating a well-coordinated and symbolic attack against state institutions.
This incident indicates the growing instability in the trans-border Baloch belt, where grievances of political exclusion and economic marginalisation continue to fuel unrest.
The increasing frequency of armed attacks in Iran’s Baloch-dominated region could have implications for Pakistan’s own internal security dynamics, particularly in the restive Makran and Kech districts.
Balochistan Home Department officials in Quetta have acknowledged the interconnected nature of regional militancy and have stressed the need for coordinated border security and intelligence sharing with Iran to prevent cross-border militancy.
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The courthouse attack serves as another grim reminder of the fragile peace across Balochistan, underlining the urgent need for inclusive governance, development, and regional cooperation to address the roots of militancy and unrest.
