Commander of 'Ansar al-Furqan' Group Killed in Sistan and Baluchestan

The Deputy of Internal Security of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence announced that Hisham Azizi, known as Abu Hafs al-Balouchi, the commander of the 'Ansar al-Furqan' group, and two of his companions were killed on Wednesday, April 21, in Sistan and Baluchestan province. This official described Ansar al-Furqan as a creation of 'Western-Arab terrorists.' Meanwhile, Reham Bakhsh Habibi, the commander of the border guards in Sistan and Baluchestan, reported a 'simultaneous' operation by Iranian and Pakistani border forces against 'bandits, traffickers, and opponents' along the shared borders of the two countries. According to the state news agency IRNA, the Deputy of Internal Security, whose name was not mentioned, also confirmed the death of Saeed Torkman Zahi, the spokesperson for the Jaish al-Adl group, in Karachi, Pakistan on the evening of April 6. IRNA also reported that in the operation by Iranian security forces, in addition to the killing of the commander of 'Ansar al-Furqan' and two members of this group named Sadeq Balouch Zahi and Muslim Balouch Zahi, two others were arrested. The operation took place in the 'Baftan' area between 'Qasr Qand and Jakigour' in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Additionally, Mohammad Marani, the commander of the Quds Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported on April 11 the arrest of several members of the 'Ansar al-Furqan' group and the discovery of an arms depot belonging to this group in southern Sistan and Baluchestan. The Deputy of Internal Security stated that the 'Ansar al-Furqan' group was formed in southeastern Iran with 'financial and military support and guidance' from what he called 'Western-Arab terrorists' since mid-last year. Previously, some websites close to Iranian conservatives, including Mashregh News, had announced that the 'Ansar al-Furqan' group was formed from the union of two groups, 'Ansar Iran' and 'Furqan.' According to this website, 'Ansar Iran' is a splinter group that separated from 'Jundallah' after the execution of its leader, Abdul Malik Rigi. The Deputy of Internal Security also mentioned that Saeed Torkman Zahi, known as 'Mullah Muaz,' the spokesperson for the Jaish al-Adl group, was killed on April 6 after claiming responsibility for the murder of eight Iranian border guards by this group, 'between 9 and 10 PM near his home in Karachi, Pakistan.' Previously, the Jaish al-Adl group had claimed responsibility for the killing of eight Iranian border guards on April 6. Meanwhile, Fars News Agency reported on Sunday, April 19, citing 'informed sources,' that Mohammad Saeed Torkman Zahi, the spokesperson for Jaish al-Adl and the second-in-command of this group, was killed in an attack by an 'unknown group' in Karachi, Pakistan. 'Simultaneous operations by the border forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan' coincided with the news of the death of the commander of the 'Ansar al-Furqan' group. Reham Bakhsh Habibi reported on Wednesday night that the recent visit of an Iranian delegation to Pakistan, led by the Deputy of Security of the Ministry of Interior, demonstrated the 'effectiveness' of the visit. He added: 'Last year, there were 70 armed confrontations with bandits, terrorists, and traffickers attempting to enter Iranian territory from across the border.' Previously, Qassem Rezaei, the commander of the Iranian police border guards, reported on April 6 that there had been 'over 70 instances of armed conflict and border violations' from Pakistan into Iranian territory in the past year. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that Pakistan, which shares a long border with Sistan and Baluchestan, has become a 'safe haven for terrorists.' In this context, on Saturday, October 18, 2014, Iranian officials reported the deaths of two border guards in the border area of Sistan and Baluchestan, and Pakistan announced that a government militia member was killed by Iranian forces. Following these events, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Pakistani ambassador in Tehran on October 18, 2014. In this context, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for the murder of eight Iranian border guards, and the Iranian Foreign Ministry demanded that Pakistan be 'held accountable for insecurity' along the borders.