The Shadow of War Over Asia’s Eastern Gateway
The instability in the Kashmir region is not merely a local issue, but rather appears to be part of a broader Western strategy to destabilize the subcontinent and South Asia as a whole. This calculated disruption threatens the development of emerging economies in the region and consequently jeopardizes the stability of Iran’s eastern frontiers along the Makran coastal belt.
Mohammad Valianpour – Journalist:
As tensions between Pakistan and India escalate, Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on his X account:
“India and Pakistan are Iran’s brothers and neighbors, and our relations with them are rooted in centuries-old cultural and civilizational ties. Tehran is ready, during this sensitive and challenging period, to utilize its full capacity in Islamabad and New Delhi to foster greater understanding between the two sides. This is the spirit taught to us by the Persian poet Saadi: ‘Human beings are limbs of one body, as they share the same essence in creation. When one limb is afflicted with pain, the others cannot remain at ease.’”
The crisis in India-Pakistan relations and the rhetoric from both sides—reminiscent of the bloody wars between these two nuclear-armed regional powers—has once again pushed South Asia and our eastern frontiers to the brink of a deep crisis.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently sought to analyze the Kashmir crisis from a regional perspective and within the framework of anti-colonial policies. As expressed by the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, the current situation in Kashmir and the disputes between India and Pakistan are the result of the malicious actions of the British upon their withdrawal from the Indian subcontinent: “The British deliberately left this wound in Kashmir to perpetuate conflict in the region.”
Consequently, resolving this crisis can only be achieved through dialogue among neighboring nations and by countering the influence of colonial powers.
Iran’s historical role in the subcontinent dates back centuries, with many Iranian dynasties playing a significant part in the region. In modern history, Iran has maintained a positive stance toward the independence of India and Pakistan and was among the first countries to officially recognize their sovereignty.
Iran’s mediation efforts to reduce tensions between the two nations trace back to the 1972 Simla Agreement—an accord that remained valid and was adhered to until just last week, before the recent escalation. Additionally, in recent decades, Iran proposed the strategic Peace Pipeline project, aimed at promoting stability through economic cooperation and natural gas exports to these countries. However, due to pressure from Western powers, the initiative was never realized.
Beyond its geographical proximity and regional influence, the Islamic Republic of Iran also holds sway in the sensitive region of Kashmir—a Muslim-majority area with deep cultural ties to Iran, often referred to as “Little Iran.”
However, the India-Pakistan conflict and the Kashmir crisis cannot be viewed through a one-sided lens. The fingerprints of Western intelligence services are clearly visible on both sides of this dispute.
In a recent interview, Pakistan’s Defense Minister admitted that his country had supported terrorist groups and militant proxies in regional nations for three decades: “We carried out these dirty operations for three decades on behalf of the United States—and also for the West, including Britain. It was a mistake, and we have suffered the consequences.”
Given this context, Iran’s role must be defined through active diplomacy and a regional mediation approach—one that remains impartial. The rights of Muslims in the region can only be secured through a crisis-resolution process between the two neighboring states, free from the interference of extra-regional powers.
The instability in the Kashmir region is not merely a local issue, but rather appears to be part of a broader Western strategy to destabilize the subcontinent and South Asia as a whole. This calculated disruption threatens the development of emerging economies in the region and consequently jeopardizes the stability of Iran’s eastern frontiers along the Makran coastal belt.
Media source: Qods Newspaper – Issue 10631 – Page 2