Exclusive; Senator Mohajer Hussain Syed: The Attack on Pakistan by the IRGC was Unilateral

Pakistan is the only country that has immediately responded militarily to the missile and drone attacks of the Islamic Republic. According to reports, two people were killed in Pakistan and ten in Iran, including women and children, during those attacks. Officials of the Islamic Republic quickly sought to control tensions with Pakistan. In this analytical interview, Senator Mohajer Hussain Syed, Chairman of the Defense Committee of the Senate of Pakistan, responded to questions from Siamak Dehghanpour about terrorism in the region, the IRGC's attacks on neighboring countries, the reciprocal reactions of neighbors, and the relations between Iran and Pakistan. Senator Hussain stated that despite the United Nations' definition of terrorism, countries seem to have different definitions of terrorism. He defined terrorism as acts carried out by non-state actors who use violence to achieve their goals, willing to challenge governments by killing innocent people for any excuse. Some speak of state terrorism, which is what they believe India does in Kashmir or Israel in Palestine. However, regarding Pakistan, they believe non-state actors are armed to achieve their own desires and confront the government, using violence as a means to impose their commands on the public. This can sometimes be through massacres, kidnappings, bombings, or disputes, all of which fall under the realm of terrorism, and terrorist organizations are deprived of legal support. When asked if 'Jish al-Adl' is considered a terrorist group by Pakistan, he affirmed that it is undoubtedly a terrorist organization. However, when questioned why Pakistan has not officially declared Jish al-Adl a terrorist group, he stated that he is unaware of the legal aspects and that there might be expert reasons behind it. He noted that Pakistan has declared the 'Baloch Liberation Front' and 'Baloch Liberation Army' as terrorist groups, and he believes the difference lies in their operations within Pakistan's territory. Some of these groups have a history dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, initially being active in Iran with support from Iraq before focusing on attacks in Pakistan. He speculated that these groups dream of a Greater Balochistan, not limiting themselves to Iran and Pakistan but also operating in parts of Afghanistan. He mentioned that Jish al-Adl likely has a base in Farah province, Afghanistan, near the Iranian border. He discussed the deprivation of Baloch rights in both Iran and Pakistan and how this influences the activities of groups advocating for Baloch rights, despite their methods. He explained that the situation in Pakistan differs from that in Iran, as Balochistan in Pakistan has a complete provincial government, while in Iran, it does not. He emphasized that Balochistan in Pakistan has a political system with independent media in the Balochi language, while facing some deprivation. He also highlighted that despite being the largest province, Balochistan has not progressed as much as Punjab or major cities like Karachi and Lahore. He noted the emergence of a protest camp in Balochistan, indicating a political awakening among the Baloch. Regarding the relationship between Iran and Pakistan, he stated that if groups operate in Pakistan, their activities are illegal, and sometimes these groups may have entered Pakistan secretly. He compared this to the time when Saddam Hussein hosted the Mojahedin-e Khalq in Iraq due to their opposition to the Islamic Republic. He expressed surprise at the Iranian attack on Pakistan, stating that historically, Iran and Pakistan have had good relations, and such a military attack was unexpected. He speculated that Iran may not have informed Pakistan beforehand, suggesting that the IRGC may have acted independently. He mentioned that the Iranian Foreign Minister and the Pakistani Prime Minister had a friendly meeting shortly before the attack, indicating that the attack was not anticipated. He expressed that the attack was a miscalculation on Iran's part, possibly by rogue elements within the IRGC. He noted that despite the shock and public anger in Pakistan, there was no significant reaction from the public, unlike what would have happened if a Western country had conducted such an attack. He concluded that the incident was unfortunate but resolved quickly through communication between the two countries, marking one of the fastest de-escalations in their history. He noted that within a week, ambassadors returned to their posts, and the tone of discussions remained brotherly, contrasting it with the prolonged tensions with India.