2009 Pishin bombing

Pishin bombing
Location of Sistan and Baluchestan Province within Iran
Location	Pishin in Sistan and Baluchestan Province
Coordinates	26°5′13″N 61°45′37″E / 26.08694°N 61.76028°E / 26.08694; 61.76028Coordinates: 26°5′13″N 61°45′37″E / 26.08694°N 61.76028°E / 26.08694; 61.76028
Date	October 18, 2009 (UTC+04.30)
Attack type	Suicide bombing
Weapon(s)	Suicide Bomb
Death(s)	43 people including several notable IRGC commanders
Injured	150
Perpetrator	Jundallah

The 2009 Pishin bombing occurred on October 18, 2009, when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a meeting in the southeastern Iranian 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,^[1][2] and injured a further 150.^[3] The Sunni rebel organization Jundallah claimed responsibility for the attack.^[4]

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.^[5] About 10 senior tribal figures were also among the dead.^[6] The Revolutionary Guard leaders killed were buried two days later in a military funeral. The funeral was attended by thousands of mourners.^[7] 43 people were killed, and another died in the hospital.

Iran initially blamed the United States for involvement in the attacks,^[8] as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom for their alleged support of the Jundallah group.^[9] The United States denied involvement.^[10] President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed a "swift response" to the attacks;^[11] the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted him as saying, "The criminals will soon get the response for their inhuman crimes."^[12] The incident was condemned by the United Nations Security Council.^[3]

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.^[13][14] Iran accused Pakistani agents of involvement in the incident and called on Pakistan to apprehend the attackers.^[15] 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.^[16] Pakistan handed over to Iran the brother of the Jundullah leader Abdolmalek Rigi.^[17] Iran's police chief held Pakistan responsible for the attack.^[18]

Several suspects were later arrested by Iran.^[19][20]

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.^[21] 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.^[22] 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".^[23]

Reaction

 Iran – The Government and Media of Iran blamed Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel for the attack.

 Pakistan – Interior Minister Rehman Malik said, ‘we can even point out his [Abdul Malik Rigi's] exact location in Afghanistan’.^[24]

 United States – The United States Government denied any involvement in the attacks.

See also

• Notable attacks by Jundallah
• 2007 Zahedan bombings (a previous Jundallah attack that targeted the Revolutionary Guards)
• List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001

References

1. ^ PressTV/Iran Today/The Bloody Terrorist attack in Baluchistan/27/10/2009
2. ^ Iranian commanders assassinated. BBC News. October 18, 2009.
3. ^ ^{a b} UN Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attacks in Iran. Xinhua. October 20, 2009.
4. ^ Jundullah claims responsibility for terror attack. Press TV. October 18, 2009.
5. ^ ‘Elite’ generals among nearly 50 killed in Iran suicide attack. Daily Times of Pakistan. October 19, 2009.
6. ^ Suicide bomber kills 35 in attack on Iran Guards Trend News Agency. October 18, 2009
7. ^ Iran mourns suicide bomb victims. BBC News. October 20, 2009.
8. ^ Larijani Blames US for Terrorist Attack on IRGC Commanders. Fars News Agency. October 18, 2009.
9. ^ Iran vows response to suicide blast. Al Jazeera. October 18, 2009.
10. ^ Derakhsi, Reza (October 19, 2009). US, UK behind attack on Guards, claims Iran. The Independent.
11. ^ President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad orders swift action against Iran bombers. The Times of India. October 19, 2009.
12. ^ Dareni, Ali Akbar; Murphy, Brian (October 18, 2009). Iran bombing kills 5 Revolutionary Guard leaders. Associated Press.
13. ^ Iran summons Pakistani charge d'affairs over deadly bomb attack. Xinhua. October 18, 2009.
14. ^ Iran summons Pakistani envoy over terrorist attack. Press TV. October 18, 2009.
15. ^ Iran accuses Pakistan over attack. BBC News. October 18, 2009.
16. ^ Tehran to demand Pakistan hand over alleged attack mastermind. France 24. October 19, 2009.
17. ^ "Bombings in Iran". Dawn. October 19, 2009. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/14-bombings-in-iran-zj-03. 
18. ^ Police Chief Holds Pakistan Accountable for Terror Attack in Iran. Fars News Agency. October 21, 2009.
19. ^ Iran arrests suspects in attack on military chiefs. Associated Press. October 21, 2009.
20. ^ Iran arrests three linked to terrorist attack. Press TV. October 20, 2009.
21. ^ Shipman, Tim (May 27, 2007). "Bush sanctions 'black ops' against Iran". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1552784/Bush-sanctions-black-ops-against-Iran.html. Retrieved April 23, 2010. 
22. ^ "UK, U.S. aided Jundullah kidnapping: Iranian official". tehran times. http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=184745. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
23. ^ "No Operation". Presstv.ir. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=99567&sectionid=351020101. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
24. ^ "India behind most terror attacks, says Malik". Dawn. October 22, 2009. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/13+we+are+aware+of+indian+involvement+in+balochistan-za-02. Retrieved 2009-10-22.