Iran has been ruthless in cracking down on the group in Sistan-Balochistan,
executing a number of Jundullah prisoners including Abdel Hamid Rigi this year,
after a well-orchestrated confession by him. Two members of the Jundullah were
executed on July 25, 2009. According to the Iranian News Agency, the two
Jundullah militants, Ayoub Rigi and Masoud Gamshadzehi, were hanged in Zahedan
prison. Earlier on July 14, 13 Jundullah militants were executed which included
relatives of Jundullah leader Abdul Malek Rigi.
The hangings of the militants sent out a chilling message about the determination of Iranian leadership to act ruthlessly to defend its core interests. Capital punishment is common in Iran. It is perhaps second only to China in the number of executions carried out each year.
Iran and Pakistan -- with important economic ties - have in the past co-operated in suppressing the Baluchi nationalism and it seems unlikely Pakistan would want to antagonize its powerful neighbor. Pakistan's foreign minister has assured the Iranian authorities that Islamabad will support Iran in tracking down those responsible for the suicide bomb attack that killed seven top commanders including the Deputy Chief of the Revolutionary Guards General Noor Ali Shooshtari.
To borrow from Dawn again, perhaps the most combustible element in this shadowy war is the US connection. "Supporting Jundullah in any way is to play with fire, and all the players in the region must understand that such support can have dangerous, unpredictable consequences for regional stability."
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