INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
According to the most recent edition of the Encyclopedia of Terror Victims in Iran, the country has endured over 23,000 casualties due to
terrorism and counterterrorism efforts since the Islamic Revolution
This significant toll places Iran among the world's largest victims of terrorism, alongside Pakistan.In recent years, one of Iran's most
pressing security challenges has been the alarming increase in terrorist activities in its southeastern region, particularly in Sistan and
Statistics further reveal that, within the past year, terrorist attacks in this area surged by 115%, and casualties have skyrocketed by 200%
compared to the previous year
Notably, 68% of all terrorist operations in Iran during the past year have taken place in this province.In light of these escalating
threats, and on the occasion of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as it Relates to Terrorism, the Tehran Times
conducted an insightful interview with Muhammad Murtaza, a leading expert on regional connectivity, security, and violent extremism, as well
Pakistan, the interview explored the current state of terrorism in the region and examined potential strategies for effectively countering
this pervasive threat.Below is the full text of the interview:1
Considering that Pakistan, like Iran, faces the challenge of terrorism, could you provide an overview of the current state of terrorism in
Pakistan? Specifically, what are the latest trends in terrorist activities, the number of attacks and casualties, and the most active
terrorist groups operating in the country?Since Pakistan has been a core partner in the Global War on Terrorism, it has paid a heavy price
in terms of losses to combat the emerging threats of terrorism
The security situation in Pakistan has deteriorated significantly since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, resulting in a sharp
operating in Pakistan are Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF),
and a few new emerging groups
A shift in tactics is evident, with attacks evolving from hit-and-run operations to more targeted ones
In 2024, 95% of terrorist attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with TTP and its allies being the primary perpetrators
These attacks resulted in 852 fatalities and 1,092 casualties, reflecting a 23% increase compared to 2023
indicating increased operational collaboration between TTP and BLA
Despite the launch of significant counter-terrorism operations, such as Zarb-e-Azb in 2014 and Rad-ul-Fasad in 2017, the frequency of
attacks continues to rise since August 2021.In terms of regional activity, BLA along with other BRAS members, remains leading in terrorist
activities in Baluchistan, while TTP conducts terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
with terrorist organizations like TTP and others, but to silence the barrels through kinetic means.In Iran, there are terrorist groups like
How do these terrorist groups finance their operations, and to what extent do these financial resources enable them to sustain their
activities? Is there evidence of external support? If so, which countries or entities are believed to be providing assistance?Terrorist
groups operating in the region appear to receive foreign support, though establishing a direct link to specific sources is a challenging
task due to the multi-layered nature of their funding
Tracing the origin of money is particularly difficult because these groups often use a variety of methods to finance their
Additionally, the rise of virtual currencies has further complicated the trace of financial resources
Nevertheless, law enforcement agencies have successfully dismantled several funding networks
According to experts, these terrorist groups rely on multiple sources of income, including charities, hawala (informal money transfer
systems), extortion, kidnapping, and ransom payments
A significant factor in sustaining these activities is the criminal-terrorist nexus, where there is a quid pro quo relationship between
criminal networks and terrorist groups
What do you see as the key obstacles preventing closer Iran-Pakistan cooperation in combating border terrorism? Do differences in security
internal threat mainly from TTP and BRAS, and is focused on eradicating this emerging threat mainly emanating from Afghanistan since the
At the same time, coordination does exist between Pakistan and Iran
However, identifying common threats with clarity and increasing intelligence sharing is necessary to mitigate the threat of terrorism in the
As you may be aware, Iran and Pakistan signed a security agreement in 2014 that included provisions for counterterrorism cooperation
Nearly a decade later, how would you assess the effectiveness of this agreement?These international agreements set the tone for the two
countries' foreign policies and supported diplomacy
However, agreements alone are not enough unless they are adopted and executed in practice
two important things:Firstly, both countries had knowledge of the hostile elements operating across their shared border
Secondly, if one country fails to act against terrorists, the other might feel justified in targeting them independently
hand, border agreements concerning local trade and energy sharing have fostered cooperation between the two countries, allowing them to
mutually benefit in a positive manner.5
influenced by other nations, prompting countries to reorient their foreign policies based on national interests
Pakistan has experienced various versions and approaches in its relations with Iran
However, a more inclusive regional approach is needed for moving forward
and Washington, while Iran has closer ties with Delhi
These affiliations influence the course of relations between the two countries
sanctions on Iran have directly impacted projects like the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline
irritants affect foreign policy objectives, such as fostering peaceful coexistence with neighboring countries
The seeds of the Afghan Jihad also remain relevant, leaving a bruise that has yet to heal
The funding from extra-regional actors, such as Saudi Arabia and the United States, for madrassas and jihadist activities, primarily
approach is to learn from the past, avoid repeating mistakes, and adopt a policy that includes regional actors, which could help build a
more constructive and collaborative region.6
proposals in this regard?It is too early to say what exact impact it would have in the long run as in the past, there were multiple examples
indicating that relation between Pakistan and Iran has never touched the high node, despite visits of high officials.In my opinion, both
countries need to work more closely on confidence-building measures that would ultimately resolve any environment of distrust
