2009 Pishin bombing
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Pishin bombing occurred on October 18, 2009, when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a meeting in the southeastern Iran
ian town of Pishin
in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The attack killed at least 43 people including several notable Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC, or Revolutionary Guards) commanders, and injured a further 150. The Sunni
rebel organization Jundallah
claimed responsibility for the attack.
Among those killed were Noor Ali Shooshtari, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard's ground forces, Rajab Ali, the commander in Sistan-Baluchestan, the commander for the town of Iranshahr
and the commander of the Amir Al-Momenin unit. About 10 senior tribal figures were also among the dead. The Revolutionary Guard leaders killed were buried two days later in a military funeral. The funeral was attended by thousands of mourners. 43 people were killed, and another died in the hospital.
Iran initially blamed the United States
for involvement in the attacks, as well as Saudi Arabia
and the United Kingdom
for their alleged support of the Jundallah group. The United States denied involvement. President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed a "swift response" to the attacks; the Islamic Republic News Agency
(IRNA) quoted him as saying, "The criminals will soon get the response for their inhuman crimes." The incident was condemned by the United Nations
Security Council
.
The chargé d'affaires
of Pakistan
was summoned by the Iranian Foreign Ministry
as the attack was thought to have been launched from Pakistani soil. Iran accused Pakistani agents of involvement in the incident and called on Pakistan to apprehend the attackers. An Iranian delegation is expected to head to Pakistan to demand the handover of Jundullah chief Abdolmalek Rigi
. This decision came after Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik
denied Rigi was on Pakistani soil. Pakistan handed over to Iran the brother of the Jundullah leader Abdolmalek Rigi. Iran's police chief held Pakistan responsible for the attack.
Several suspects were later arrested by Iran.
Allegations of foreign support for Jundullah are not new. In May 2007 the London Daily Telegraph
reported that President George W. Bush
had given the CIA approval to launch covert "black" operations to achieve regime change in Iran. According to this report, the CIA was supplying money and weapons to the Baluchi separatist group named Jundullah. The former Pakistani Army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg
claimed in July 2008 that Washington had been providing Jundullah with financial aid and training facilities to create unrest and strain Tehran–Islamabad relations. According to PressTV, Abdolhamid Rigi, a senior member of Jundullah, mentioned in July 2009 in court that the group has been trained and financed by "the US and Zionists".
– Interior Minister Rehman Malik
said, ‘we can even point out his [Abdul Malik Rigi's] exact location in Afghanistan’.
– The United States Government denied any involvement in the attacks.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian town of Pishin
Pishin, Iran
Pishin is a city in and the capital of Pishin District, in Sarbaz County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 10,477, in 1,832 families....
in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The attack killed at least 43 people including several notable Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC, or Revolutionary Guards) commanders, and injured a further 150. The Sunni
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
rebel organization Jundallah
Jundallah
Jundallah, or Jondollah , also known as People's Resistance Movement of Iran , is an organization based in Balochistan that claims to be fighting for the rights of Sunni Muslims in Iran. It was founded by Abdolmalek Rigi who was captured and executed in Iran in 2010...
claimed responsibility for the attack.
Among those killed were Noor Ali Shooshtari, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard's ground forces, Rajab Ali, the commander in Sistan-Baluchestan, the commander for the town of Iranshahr
Iranshahr
Iranshahr is a city in and capital of Iranshahr County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 99,496, in 17,698 families. The city is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Baloch speaking the Balochi language....
and the commander of the Amir Al-Momenin unit. About 10 senior tribal figures were also among the dead. The Revolutionary Guard leaders killed were buried two days later in a military funeral. The funeral was attended by thousands of mourners. 43 people were killed, and another died in the hospital.
Iran initially blamed the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for involvement in the attacks, as well as Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for their alleged support of the Jundallah group. The United States denied involvement. President
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed a "swift response" to the attacks; the Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamic Republic News Agency
The Islamic Republic News Agency , or IRNA, is the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is government-funded and controlled under the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The agency also publishes the newspaper Iran. , the Managing Director of IRNA is Ali Akbar...
(IRNA) quoted him as saying, "The criminals will soon get the response for their inhuman crimes." The incident was condemned by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
.
The chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
was summoned by the Iranian Foreign Ministry
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an Iranian government ministry. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Cabinet member in charge....
as the attack was thought to have been launched from Pakistani soil. Iran accused Pakistani agents of involvement in the incident and called on Pakistan to apprehend the attackers. An Iranian delegation is expected to head to Pakistan to demand the handover of Jundullah chief Abdolmalek Rigi
Abdolmalek Rigi
Abdolmajid Rigi or Abdolmalek Rigi was the leader of Jundallah, an Islamist Sunni militant organization based in the Sistan and Baluchestan Province of southeast Iran, until his capture and execution in 2010 by the Iranian government.-Biography:Born in 1983, Abdolmalek Rigi is from the Regi tribe...
. This decision came after Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik
Rehman Malik
27 April 2009 He has been the interior adviser since 27 March 2008.Senator A. Rehman Malik is a Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. His Second name is Shetan Malik and he...
denied Rigi was on Pakistani soil. Pakistan handed over to Iran the brother of the Jundullah leader Abdolmalek Rigi. Iran's police chief held Pakistan responsible for the attack.
Several suspects were later arrested by Iran.
Allegations of foreign support for Jundullah are not new. In May 2007 the London Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
reported that President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
had given the CIA approval to launch covert "black" operations to achieve regime change in Iran. According to this report, the CIA was supplying money and weapons to the Baluchi separatist group named Jundullah. The former Pakistani Army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg
Mirza Aslam Beg
General Mirza Aslam Beg, SBt, HI, NI, afwc, psc , is a retired four-star general who was the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army succeeding General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, after the latter died in an air crash on 17 August 1988...
claimed in July 2008 that Washington had been providing Jundullah with financial aid and training facilities to create unrest and strain Tehran–Islamabad relations. According to PressTV, Abdolhamid Rigi, a senior member of Jundullah, mentioned in July 2009 in court that the group has been trained and financed by "the US and Zionists".
Reaction
– The Government and Media of Iran blamed Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel for the attack.– Interior Minister Rehman Malik
Rehman Malik
27 April 2009 He has been the interior adviser since 27 March 2008.Senator A. Rehman Malik is a Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. His Second name is Shetan Malik and he...
said, ‘we can even point out his [Abdul Malik Rigi's] exact location in Afghanistan’.
– The United States Government denied any involvement in the attacks.
See also
- Notable attacks by Jundallah
- 2007 Zahedan bombings2007 Zahedan bombingsThe 2007 Zahedan bombings occurred from 14-17 February in Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan Province, Iran. While Jundallah claimed responsibility, the Iranian government has accused the governments of Pakistan and the United States of complicity. The first bombing occurred at 6:30 a.m...
(a previous Jundallah attack that targeted the Revolutionary Guards) - List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001