Tragedy in Iran: Eight Pakistani Laborers Gunned Down in Meharistan
- International Affairs Iran Middle East Pakistan South Asia
Shreya Naskar- 0
- 5 minutes read
On Saturday, April 12, 2025, eight Pakistani nationals were brutally killed in southeastern Iran’s restive Sistan-Baluchestan province, in what authorities and experts suspect was a targeted sectarian or ethnic attack. The victims, all from Bahawalpur in southern Punjab, Pakistan, were working at a car repair workshop in Meharistan when unknown gunmen stormed the premises overnight, tied them up, and executed them at close range. This tragic incident, claimed by the banned Balochistan National Army (BNA)—an ethnic Baloch separatist group—has sent shockwaves through both Iran and Pakistan, further exposing the simmering tensions in the border regions and the persistent threats to migrant workers in conflict-prone areas. According to Iranian media reports, the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning. The assailants, reportedly armed and masked, entered the workshop where the Pakistani workers were sleeping, tied them up, and opened fire, killing all eight men on the spot. Local authorities were alerted by residents who heard gunshots and discovered the gruesome scene. Five of the deceased were identified by Iranian officials as Dilshad, his son Muhammad Naeem, Jaffar, Danish, and Nasir. The identities of the remaining three victims have yet to be publicly disclosed. Police transferred the bodies to a local hospital, and a forensic team was deployed to examine the crime scene. As of now, no suspects have been apprehended, but authorities say an investigation is ongoing.
Responsibility for the massacre was swiftly claimed by the Balochistan National Army (BNA), a banned separatist group known for targeting both Iranian and Pakistani interests in the region. In a brief statement sent to local media outlets, the group admitted to the killings and stated that the victims were targeted specifically because of their nationality. However, the statement did not provide a detailed rationale for the attack.
The BNA, which has carried out multiple cross-border operations in recent years, claims to represent ethnic Baloch interests and has repeatedly accused both the Iranian and Pakistani governments of suppressing Baloch identity, culture, and autonomy. The province of Sistan-Baluchestan is Iran’s poorest and most unstable region. It is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Baloch Sunnis, who have long felt marginalized by Iran’s Shia-majority government. This sectarian and ethnic divide has created fertile ground for separatist ideologies and militant recruitment. The province is also a hotspot for cross-border smuggling, drug trafficking, and violent confrontations between Iranian security forces and armed groups. The porous 900-kilometer Iran-Pakistan border enables frequent movement of fighters and contraband, complicating security efforts on both sides. This latest incident is not unprecedented. A few years ago, nine Pakistani workers were similarly executed in Sistan-Baluchestan, also under mysterious circumstances. Such attacks highlight the region’s volatile security environment and the persistent threats faced by foreign workers, especially from neighbouring countries. Although the motive behind the April 12 attack is still under investigation, the sectarian and ethnic dimensions cannot be ignored. The Baloch separatist movement is rooted in a long-standing conflict over autonomy, economic marginalization, and perceived cultural repression. In Iran, ethnic Baloch communities frequently report discrimination in education, employment, and political participation. The killing of Pakistani workers, who were Sunni Muslims themselves, suggests that the motivation might have been more ethnic than religious, although the sectarian context in Iran often overlaps with ethnic grievances. The targeting of workers from Pakistan may also reflect resentment toward Pakistan’s crackdown on Baloch militants operating within its borders—a campaign that often involves cross-border intelligence cooperation with Iran.
One of the most pressing consequences of this incident is the spotlight it shines on the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, particularly in conflict-prone areas. Many Pakistani labourers migrate to Iran, especially border provinces, in search of work in agriculture, construction, and automobile repair sectors. Most of these workers live in basic conditions and lack legal protections, making them easy targets for violence and exploitation.
The Pakistani and Iranian governments may need to develop a coordinated framework to protect migrant labourers, including better regulation of informal employment, improved documentation, and enhanced security in volatile zones. Human rights organizations have long called for better labour protections in both countries. The killing of eight Pakistani workers in southeastern Iran is a tragic reminder of the enduring instability in Sistan-Baluchestan and the dangerous interplay of ethnic, sectarian, and geopolitical tensions in the region. Claimed by the Balochistan National Army, the attack exposes not only the vulnerabilities of migrant workers but also the fragility of Iran-Pakistan border security and the deep-rooted issues of marginalization and militancy that fuel such violence. As investigations continue, both Tehran and Islamabad must act swiftly to ensure justice for the victims and take steps to prevent such attacks in the future. Addressing the root causes of violence in the region—ranging from economic inequality to ethnic and sectarian discrimination—remains critical for long-term stability.
