UK Travel Advisory: Risk of 'Further Missile and Drone Attacks' in Sistan and Baluchestan

On Friday, January 19, the UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice for citizens, warning of the possibility of 'further missile or drone attacks' in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, referencing Pakistan's attacks on Thursday against locations in the region. According to this update, the likelihood of protests or increased regional tensions and the associated risk of violence are other factors British travelers should consider before traveling to Iran. On Thursday, January 18, Pakistan attacked militant targets within Iranian territory in response to attacks from Tehran earlier in the week that targeted militant bases in Pakistan. These attacks represent the most serious border clashes between the two countries in recent years and are seen as a serious warning of broader instability in the Middle East since the recent outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas. However, both sides have expressed a willingness to de-escalate tensions despite their historically difficult relations. According to Iran, nine people, including four children, were killed in the Pakistani attacks in a border village. Pakistan claims that two children were killed in the Iranian attacks on Tuesday. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint. The United States also called for restraint from both sides, although President Joe Biden stated that these conflicts indicate that the Islamic Republic is not particularly 'well-liked' in the region. Previously, the UK Foreign Office had advised its citizens to avoid areas within 100 kilometers of the border with Afghanistan, 10 kilometers from the border with Iraq, Sistan and Baluchestan province, and areas east of Bam and Jask. According to the UK Foreign Office travel advisory, some areas of the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf (waters near the three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa), and the Sea of Oman are 'politically and militarily sensitive,' with a risk of ship seizures and harassment of crews and passengers by the Islamic Republic. Concurrently, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence released a statement regarding the deadly explosions in Kerman during the fourth anniversary ceremony of Qassem Soleimani on January 3, claiming to have killed 'two Takfiri terrorists' who were planning to carry out 'further operations.' According to the Ministry of Intelligence's claims, 'one of the ISIS leaders named Mohammad Imran Tanveer, alias Abu Imran,' has been arrested, and investigations are ongoing. The statement also mentioned the arrest of several other members of 'ISIS.' The Persian section of Voice of America does not have the ability to verify the claims made by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. Several critics and experts have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of making hasty and unfounded accusations against Iranian and non-Iranian citizens in an attempt to cover up its intelligence failures. Pakistan: We do not intend to escalate differences with Iran; discussions between the foreign ministers of the two countries. Abdul Hamid: Iran and Pakistan should 'talk'; protesters in Zahedan chanted 'Death to Khamenei.' The US emphasizes the need for 'restraint' from Iran and Pakistan: We absolutely do not want the conflicts to escalate. Reactions from figures to Pakistan's attack on the day of 'Ghazal' recitation by Khamenei; Prince Reza Pahlavi: The Islamic Republic is 'a terrorist incubator.' Reactions to the designation of the victims of the Pakistan attack as 'foreign nationals': They are 'the truest children of Iran.'