Balochi Nationalists Intensify Violent Rebellion in Iran

Balochi Nationalists Intensify Violent Rebellion in Iran

By Chris Zambelis

The conflict between Iranian security forces and ethnic Baloch insurgents led by the Jondallah (Soldiers of God - an obscure militant group also known as the People's Resistance Movement of Iran) that has been raging in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan since 2003 is experiencing an increase in hostilities. The latest spate of violence was sparked by Iran's refusal to heed Jondallah's June 2008 demand that it release Abdulhamid Rigi, the brother of Jondallah founder and leader Abdulmalak Rigi, along with three other jailed members of Jondallah. Pakistani authorities detained Rigi and his associates in Quetta in neighboring Pakistan's Balochistan province for attempting to pass as Pakistani nationals. The men were later transferred into Iranian custody. After the handover, Jondallah ambushed an Iranian police outpost and abducted 16 police officers in Saravan, a town located near the Pakistani border. The Iranian hostages were reportedly then transferred over the Iranian-Pakistan border into Pakistani Balochistan... 

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