Thunder Over Balochistan: Pakistan Unleashes "Death to Guerrillas" Strikes on Iran in Tit-for-Tat Escalation

 Islamabad, Pakistan - In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Pakistan's Air Force struck back at Iran early Thursday morning, unleashing a barrage of air strikes against "high-value terrorist targets" within Iranian territory. Dubbed "Marg Bar Samachar" (Death to Guerrillas), the operation marks a new chapter in the tit-for-tat exchanges between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, fueled by accusations of harboring insurgent groups.

The strikes, carried out with China-made JF-17 Thunder and J-10C Vigorous Dragon fighter jets, were a precise response to Iran's ballistic missile attack on Pakistani soil just two days earlier. Both nations share a porous 900-kilometer border, and Balochistan, the border region, has long been a hotbed of insurgency.

Pakistan's Air Force, armed with deadly GIDS B-REK glide bombs and supported by Wing Loong II surveillance drones, targeted seven locations over 80 kilometers inside Iran, reportedly linked to the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). While the Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed "multiple terrorist casualties," local Iranian officials claimed three women and four children, not Iranian citizens, were among the dead.

This tit-for-tat escalation stems from the complex tapestry of Baloch nationalism. Both Pakistan and Iran have significant Baloch populations, and over the past two decades, these communities have engaged in low-level insurgencies, seeking an independent Balochistan. Groups like the BLF operate freely in both countries, accusing each other of providing safe havens.

The air strikes, while aimed at combating terrorism, risk further destabilizing the already volatile region. Both Pakistan and Iran possess nuclear capabilities, casting a long shadow over any potential escalation. The international community is urging both nations to exercise restraint and engage in diplomatic dialogue to prevent further bloodshed.