Attack type Suicide bombing Non-fatal injuries 150 | Weapons Suicide Bomb | |
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Location Pishin in Sistan and Baluchestan Province Date October 18, 2009 (UTC+04.30) Deaths 43 people including several notable IRGC commanders | ||
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, and injured a further 150. Jundallah, a militant organization based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.
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. About 10 senior tribal figures were also among the dead. The Revolutionary Guard leaders killed were buried two days later in a military funeral. The funeral was attended by thousands of mourners. 43 people were killed, and another died in the hospital.
Iran blamed the United States for involvement in the attacks, as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom for their support of the Jundallah terrorist group. The United States denied involvement. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed a "swift response" to the attacks; the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted him as saying, "The criminals will soon get the response for their inhuman crimes." The incident was condemned by the United Nations Security Council.
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. Iran accused Pakistani agents of involvement in the incident and called on Pakistan to apprehend the attackers. 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. Pakistan handed over to Iran the brother of the Jundullah leader Abdolmalek Rigi. Iran's police chief held Pakistan responsible for the attack.
Several suspects were later arrested by Iran.
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’.
United States – The United States Government denied involvement in the attacks, but later some documentations showed that the US government under Bush administration was alleged with supporting and supplying the Jundullah group.