Unraveling the Sectarian Strife: Deep-rooted Sunni-Shia Rivalry Evident in Recent Iranian Strikes on Pakistan and Iraq

Introduction

In the recent spate of strikes involving Iran, Pakistan, and Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, a closer examination reveals a complex tapestry of geopolitical tensions. While on the surface, these strikes appear to be responses to specific incidents, a deeper analysis suggests a manifestation of the longstanding and intricate rivalry between Sunni and Shia factions.

History of Shia-Sunni Conflict

The Sunni-Shia rivalry is a longstanding and complex sectarian divide within Islam, tracing its roots back to the early days of the religion. The primary source of contention revolves around the question of leadership and succession after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Over centuries, this theological disagreement has evolved into a multifaceted geopolitical and cultural divide. The rivalry manifests in various forms, including political conflicts, sectarian violence, and diplomatic tensions. Sunni-majority countries, such as Saudi Arabia, often find themselves at odds with Shia-majority nations, like Iran, in regional power struggles.

The Balochistan Strike: Unmasking Sectarian Dimensions

Tuesday’s strike in Balochistan, Pakistan, ostensibly targeting Jaish al-Adl, a Baloch Sunni Salafi Muslim group, serves as a microcosm of the broader Sunni-Shia conflict. Jaish al-Adl, with its history of attacks on both Shia Iranian and Shia Pakistani entities, exemplifies the intricate nature of the sectarian strife, transcending national borders.

Escalation in Iraq: Sunni-Shia Divide on Display

Iran’s ballistic missile strike on Sunni Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq further underscores the depth of the Sunni-Shia rivalry. While officially targeting Islamic State and Mossad, the attack also claimed civilian lives in Irbil. The condemnation from the United States highlights the global ramifications of this sectarian feud.

The fallacy of Shia Iran’s support to Sunni Palestinians

These recent strikes targeting the Sunni groups in both Pakistan and Iraq with only lip service for the Sunni Palestinians reveal that all the ho-halla Iran creates for the Palestinian’s cause is only a sham, and at heart, it hates the Sunnis of Palestine as much as it hates any other Muslim Sunni community anywhere else in the world. Had Israel been a Shia state and bombing the Sunni Palestinians with all other parameters being constant, then the stand of Iran would have been completely different.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the recent strikes in Pakistan and Kurdish-controlled Iraq are not isolated incidents but rather manifestations of the deep-rooted Sunni-Shia rivalry and have the potential of blowing out of proportion making the entire region unstable.

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Seeker Amit