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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Hannah Ellis-Petersen South Asia correspondent

Where is Balochistan and why is it the target of Iran and Pakistan strikes?

Pakistani security officials stop people in the seats and riding in the back of a white van
Pakistani security officials stop people at a roadside checkpoint in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan province, on Wednesday. Photograph: Fayyaz Ahmed/EPA

Balochistan is a region with a distinct cultural and historical identity that is now divided between three countries: Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. This week, Iran and Pakistan launched strikes across each other’s borders targeting militants in the Balochistan area.

The region takes its name from the Baloch tribe, who began inhabiting the area centuries ago, and has long been fought over and divided by rulers including the Persians and the British.

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