ISLAMABAD: Recent analyses in Israeli-affiliated publications havehighlighted Balochistan’s growing relevance in Israel’s broader strategicframework, particularly as a potential pressure point against Iran andPakistan. A July 2025 opinion piece in The Times of Israel by geopoliticalexpert Sergio Restelli described escalating violence in the province,including attacks on security forces and civilians, while noting the launchof the Middle East Media Research Institute’s Balochistan Studies Projectin June 2025. This initiative, focused on translating regional languagesand documenting Baloch issues, frames the area as a strategic outpost dueto its vast resources and ports at Gwadar and Chabahar. Observers interpretthis as indicative of Israel’s interest in countering Iranian nuclearambitions and its alliances, though the piece emphasizes indirect influencerather than direct military engagement.
The MEMRI project, established by former Israeli intelligence officialYigal Carmon, has drawn scrutiny for its perceived alignment with Israeliinterests. It appointed figures associated with Baloch nationalistmovements and published materials highlighting grievances against Pakistanand Iran. Pakistani security analysts view this as an effort to amplifyseparatist narratives, potentially destabilizing both nations amid ongoinginsurgencies by groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army. The province’smineral wealth, including rare earth elements, and its role in theChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor amplify its geopolitical significance,making external attention a matter of national security concern.
Pakistani intelligence agencies, including the Inter-Services Intelligence,have long accused foreign powers of exploiting Baloch separatism. Reportsfrom Islamabad frequently link such activities to coordinated effortsinvolving India and Israel, aimed at undermining Pakistan’s territorialintegrity and countering its strategic partnerships. Claims suggest thatexternal actors provide ideological or logistical support to militantfactions, exacerbating attacks on infrastructure and personnel. Theseallegations gained renewed prominence following the MEMRI announcement,with officials describing it as part of a hybrid warfare strategy toportray Balochistan as occupied territory.
Iranian authorities have similarly implicated Israeli intelligence insupporting separatist elements along its southeastern border. Duringperiods of heightened tension, including reported standoffs with Israel,Tehran has accused Mossad of recruiting through Baloch groups to conductoperations or gather intelligence. Iranian officials have referencedconnections between separatists and external entities, leading to arrestsand thwarted infiltrations. Such claims contributed to rare securitycooperation between Tehran and Islamabad, including joint protocols toaddress cross-border threats from militant outfits operating in sharedBaloch regions.
Historical precedents inform these contemporary accusations. Earlierreports from U.S. sources detailed instances where Israeli operativesallegedly posed as American agents to engage with groups like Jundallah, aSunni militant organization active in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestanprovince. While those cases date back over a decade, they are cited inregional discourse to argue a pattern of using proxies or false flags totarget adversaries. Pakistani and Iranian perspectives frame recentdevelopments, including the promotion of Baloch voices in Israeli-linkedplatforms, as extensions of this approach to weaken state authority inresource-rich peripheries.
The strategic calculus appears rooted in Israel’s focus on containingIranian influence. Balochistan’s proximity to Iran’s nuclear facilities andits ports position it as a monitoring vantage point in theoreticalassessments. Some Israeli commentators describe the region as offeringindirect leverage against Tehran and its ties with Pakistan, withoutendorsing overt intervention. This perspective contrasts sharply withaccusations from affected states, which portray such interest as deliberatedestabilization through co-optation of local grievances.
Critics from Pakistani and Iranian viewpoints argue that initiatives likethe MEMRI project hijack legitimate Baloch aspirations for externalgeopolitical gains. They contend that amplifying separatism serves todivert attention from internal issues while advancing agendas againstnuclear-capable or strategically aligned states. No conclusive publicevidence confirms direct Israeli operational involvement in terrorism, withclaims relying on intelligence assessments, intercepted communications, andpatterns of regional commentary.
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Balochistan’s volatility persists, marked by coordinated militantoperations targeting security installations and economic projects. Theseincidents underscore the province’s internal challenges, including demandsfor resource control and political autonomy. External interest, whetheranalytical or alleged supportive, complicates resolution efforts andheightens bilateral tensions between Pakistan, Iran, and perceivedadversaries.
The discourse surrounding Balochistan in Israeli strategic considerationsreflects broader regional rivalries. While publications like The Times ofIsrael present it as an emerging analytical focus, Pakistani and Iranianagencies interpret it as evidence of intelligence-driven interference aimedat fostering instability. Sustained monitoring and diplomatic engagementremain essential to address underlying grievances and mitigate externalexploitation risks.
Source:https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/balochistan-enters-israeli-strategic-calculus
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