The brutal killing of eight Pakistani nationals in Iran’s Mehristan district is not just a tragedy—it is a damning indictment of the failure of Iran to rein in terrorist groups operating from its soil. The victims, bound and executed in cold blood, were unarmed laborers, targeted in what bears all the hallmarks of a terror operation by groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA). What makes this massacre even more alarming is that it occurred shortly after Iranian authorities had issued a threat alert regarding possible attacks on Pakistanis. If Iran knew of the danger, why were no preventive measures taken?
A Pattern of Iranian Complicity
This is not an isolated incident. Iran’s tacit—and at times active—support for anti-Pakistan terrorist groups is an open secret. The BLA’s leadership, including figures like Bashir Zaib, has historically found safe haven in Iran. Dr. Allah Nazar, another terrorist leader, was similarly sheltered. The 2020 Makran Coastal Highway attack, where terrorists targeted an FC convoy, was traced back to Iranian territory. Even Kulbhushan Jadhav, India’s RAW operative caught in Pakistan, was operating from Iranian soil.
Pakistan’s January 2024 surgical strikes inside Iran targeting BLA hideouts were met with an unusual silence from Tehran—because Iran knew the truth. These terrorists were being harbored, armed, and facilitated. The city of Zahedan has long served as a hub for attacks against Pakistan, with RAW and Iranian intelligence collaborating to destabilize our country.
The Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA)’s recent claim of responsibility for this atrocity reveals an unsettling truth: the terror infrastructure targeting Pakistan remains intact, merely rebranded. This gruesome act – like those before it by BLA, BRA, or other splinter groups – follows the same playbook: brutalize civilians, sow division, and exploit Iran’s permissive environment.
The Kao Plan – Iran’s Role in India’s Proxy War
The historical ‘Kao Plan’—crafted by India’s first RAW chief, R.N. Kao—outlined a strategy to use Iran and Afghanistan as bases for subversion against Pakistan. Decades later, this network remains active, with Iranian territory serving as a launchpad for terrorism. If Iran continues to align itself with India’s hegemonic ambitions, Pakistan will have no choice but to respond in kind.
Digital Warfare by Iran
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and other militant groups are not just operating on the ground but also waging a sophisticated digital war against Pakistan. Anti-CPEC content on TikTok surged by 2,300% since the project’s inception, with one in three users in Balochistan exposed to such propaganda in 2024. The #StopCPEC hashtag trended over 500 times, reaching 15 million users since 2018—a campaign that aligns with the destabilization efforts of groups like BLA, which Iran has long sheltered. This digital hybrid warfare complements their physical attacks, such as the Makran Coastal Highway ambush (2020) and the Mehristan massacre (2025), both linked to Iranian soil.
Iran’s silence after Pakistan’s 2024 surgical strikes against BLA hideouts inside its territory speaks volumes. Meanwhile, the same groups exploit platforms like TikTok—ironically owned by China, Pakistan’s closest ally—to radicalize youth and undermine CPEC, a project vital for regional stability. If Iran truly opposes terrorism, why does it allow BLA leaders like Bashir Zaib and Dr. Allah Nazar to operate freely, while RAW agents like Kulbhushan Jadhav use Iranian bases to orchestrate attacks? The Mehristan killings are not an anomaly; they are part of a pattern of Iranian negligence—or worse, collaboration—with forces seeking Pakistan’s destabilization.
A Selective Silence
It is noteworthy that while Pakistani scholars and human rights activists are often vocal about conflicts involving Afghanistan or other regional players, their voices remain conspicuously subdued when it comes to Iran’s transgressions. This selective silence has, over time, cultivated an unwarranted soft corner for Iran in the hearts of many Pakistanis—a sentiment that contrasts sharply with Tehran’s hostile actions, from sheltering anti-Pakistan militants to enabling cross-border terrorism.
This dichotomy in public discourse is striking. When Pakistani citizens are targeted in Afghanistan, outrage is swift and unanimous. Yet when eight Pakistanis are bound and executed in Iran—a clear act of terror with state-level complicity—the same voices grow hesitant, often couching their language in misplaced diplomatic caution. Such restraint is difficult to comprehend, particularly when evidence of Iran’s harboring of BLA, BNA, and even Indian operatives like Kulbhushan Jadhav is irrefutable.
The reasons for this reluctance may vary—geopolitical hedging, sectarian affiliations, or even an overcorrection to avoid appearing aligned with any particular bloc. But neutrality in the face of aggression is not objectivity; it is complicity. Pakistan’s civil society must recognize that holding Iran accountable for its destabilizing role is not warmongering—it is a necessary defense of national sovereignty and the lives of our citizens.
True intellectual consistency demands that we apply the same moral clarity to Iran’s actions as we do elsewhere. The blood of Pakistani laborers in Mehristan demands nothing less.
Diplomatic and Strategic Reckoning
Pakistan has exercised restraint for too long. While our focus has primarily been on threats from Afghanistan and India, Iran’s role in enabling terrorism can no longer be ignored. The Iranian ambassador must be summoned immediately, and Pakistan’s diplomatic response should be unequivocal: stop harboring terrorists, or face consequences.
Also See: Jaffar Express Attack: A Geopolitical Design to Destabilize Pakistan?
The Way Forward
- Full Investigation & Accountability – Iran must conduct a transparent probe and punish those responsible.
- Enhanced Security for Pakistani Nationals – Immediate measures must be taken to protect foreign workers in Iran.
- Counter-Terrorism Cooperation – If Iran is serious about regional stability, it must act against all terror groups, including those targeting Pakistan.
- Diplomatic Firmness – Pakistan should adopt a more assertive stance, making it clear that Iranian soil cannot be used for attacks against our citizens.
The Mehristan massacre is a wake-up call. Pakistan will not tolerate the murder of its citizens on foreign soil, especially when the host nation has been complicit through negligence or worse. Iran must choose: will it be a partner in peace, or an enabler of terror? The ball is in Tehran’s court—but Pakistan’s patience is not infinite.
Enough is enough. Act before it’s too late.
