Mariyam Suleman Anees
Like the rest of the world, Pakistan closely watched the Iran-Israel war with great concern. With the two countries agreeing to a ceasefire, the war has ended for now. However, the implications of the war for the people of the region will continue to be felt for several weeks and months to come.
As a neighbor of Iran, Pakistan will have to deal with the fallout. On June 23, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) held a critical meeting to assess this impact on Pakistan’s stability and broader regional peace. While any instability in Iran triggers national security and foreign policy concerns in Islamabad, the implications for the lives and livelihoods of people in the border regions should be of concern as well.
Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan shares a 900-kilometer-long border with Iran. Baloch people live on both sides of the border. For generations, family relations and cultural exchange have fostered a deeply interdependent environment across the border. People cross the border on a daily basis, not only to meet family members but also for their livelihoods and religious pilgrimages.
Amid the Iran-Israel war, all cross-border activity, including travel and trade, were disrupted. Assistant Commissioner of Gwadar Jawad Ahmed Zehr confirmed to The Diplomat that border crossing points for Iran had been closed from the Pakistani side. This includes the transit and trade hubs at Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur, and Washuk.
No comments:
Post a Comment