ISLAMABAD: A significant development has unfolded in Iran’s restiveSistan-Baluchestan province as the Sunni militant group Jaysh al-Adl, longdesignated a terrorist organization by multiple nations, has merged withother Baloch factions to form the Popular Fighters Front (PFF), also knownas the Popular Fighters Front or JMM. Announced in mid-December 2025, thiscoalition signals a strategic pivot from narrow ethnic separatism towardbroader opposition against the Islamic Republic’s leadership, amid ongoingarmed confrontations and claims of impending attacks on Iranian targets.The move comes against a backdrop of heightened domestic unrest in Iran,where economic pressures and political discontent have fueled widespreadprotests since late 2025.
The Popular Fighters Front comprises several Baloch entities, including thePADA Baloch Movement, Harakat-e Nasr Baluchestan, the Mohammad Rasulullahgroup, and Jaysh al-Adl as its most prominent armed component. In a videostatement, a masked spokesman described the merger as a response tosystemic oppression under the velayat-e faqih system, emphasizing the needfor unity among resistance forces to enhance their struggle’seffectiveness. The manifesto highlights grievances over the disregard forBaloch dignity, culture, and religious rights, while also appealing toIran’s wider population of over 80 million citizens to join in opposition,marking a departure from previous separatist rhetoric.
Jaysh al-Adl, which emerged around 2012 as a successor to the dismantledJundallah group, has a history of conducting ambushes, bombings, andkidnappings targeting Iranian security forces, particularly the IslamicRevolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and border guards. The group has beenresponsible for numerous deadly incidents along the porous Iran-Pakistanborder, including attacks that prompted cross-border military responsesbetween Tehran and Islamabad in recent years. Despite its terroristdesignation by the United States, Iran, Pakistan, and others, Jaysh al-Adlhas maintained operational capacity, drawing on local Sunni Baloch supportin one of Iran’s poorest provinces. Iran jas alleged that the Baloch groupis sponsored by Israeli MOSSAD and US CIA to detabilise Iran.
On the day of the merger announcement, the newly formed Front claimedresponsibility for an armed assault on an IRGC border patrol, resulting inthe deaths of several security personnel. This immediate action underscoresthe coalition’s commitment to continuing armed struggle alongsidepolitical, media, and social activities. Analysts note that the rebrandingeffort seeks to broaden appeal beyond ethnic lines, potentially attractingsympathy from other Iranian opposition elements frustrated with theregime’s policies, including its handling of economic decline and foreignengagements.
The formation of the Popular Fighters Front occurs amid escalating internalchallenges for Iran’s leadership. Protests that began in late 2025 overinflation, currency devaluation, and energy shortages have evolved intocalls for fundamental change, with chants targeting Supreme LeaderAyatollah Ali Khamenei directly. While not directly linked to the Balochinsurgency, the unrest highlights vulnerabilities in the Islamic Republic’scontrol, particularly in minority regions like Sistan-Baluchestan, whereethnic and sectarian tensions intersect with broader discontent.
Tehran has consistently attributed Jaysh al-Adl’s activities to foreigninterference, accusing the United States and Israel of providing backingthrough intelligence agencies like the CIA and Mossad to destabilize thecountry and pursue regime change objectives. Iranian state media andofficials have repeatedly claimed that the group receives external support,funding, and training, though independent analysts often point to localsources such as wealthy Baloch diaspora in Gulf states, drug smugglingnetworks, and black-market arms from Afghanistan as primary sustainmentmechanisms. No concrete evidence of direct CIA or Mossad involvement hasbeen publicly substantiated by Western sources.
Pakistan’s role remains complex, given the shared Baloch population acrossthe border. Islamabad denies providing sanctuary to Jaysh al-Adl and hasconducted joint operations with Iran to eliminate militants, including thereported killing of the group’s leader in late 2024. However, mutualaccusations persist, with Tehran criticizing Pakistan for inadequate bordercontrol and Islamabad highlighting threats from Iranian soil.
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The emergence of this unified Front raises questions about the futuretrajectory of Baloch militancy in Iran. While it strengthens coordinationamong factions, it also risks intensified counterterrorism operations bythe IRGC, which has historically responded forcefully to such threats. Thecoalition’s stated intent to conduct attacks inside Iran could furtherstrain regional stability, particularly along the volatile border area.
As Iran’s domestic and external pressures mount, the Popular Fighters Frontrepresents a notable evolution in opposition dynamics, blending ethnicgrievances with anti-regime appeals in a province long marked bymarginalization and conflict.
Source: https://www.iranintl.com/en/202512128655
Tags: Jaysh al-Adl, Popular Fighters Front, Sistan-Baluchestan, IslamicRevolutionary Guard Corps
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