The Jundallah belongs to the most mysterious rebel movements in the world. Since its appearance in 2002, it has fought for the rights of the Baluch minority in Iran. In marked contrast to the Baluch separatist groups in neighboring Pakistan, the Jundallah has not highlighted ethnic, but rather religious identity. Most Baluch are Sunni Muslims, a minority in the Shiite-dominated Islamic Republic of Iran.

Stephane Dudoignon is one of the few experts on the Jundallah world-wide. "The Jundallah is probably a numerically very limited movement," the Paris-based scholar says. "The figures oscillate between 200 and 700, anyway less than 1,000 active fighters."

The Jundallah has been mounting targeted attacks on Iranian security forces; but last year, there seemed to be a radicalization with two major blasts that killed dozens of civilians. A suicide attack in Pishin last October was something new for Iran and reminded observers rather of similar attacks in Pakistan or Afghanistan.

International support?

As Stephane Dudoignon explains, "one of the interpretations of this change and of the absolutely obvious will of the Jundallah to cut bridges with the Islamic republic was that perhaps it feels enough supported by foreign governments and powers to embark on much more spectacular violence."

After Rigi's arrest, Iran has once again blamed the US for backing Jundallah. Western media have also discussed this possibility. Stephane Dudoignon emphasizes that there is no evidence either way, but also points out another alleged international connection: the Pakistani secret service ISI has been mentioned very regularly, especially by the Iranian government, as a supporter of the Jundallah. Dudoignon says, "during eight years, Rigi and his fighters could benefit from the possibility to retire to Pakistani territory after attacks, with their families sometimes; this could not have existed without what I would be tempted to call at least a lack of interest in them by the Pakistani security services."

Links to Sunni militant groups in the region

Abdolmalek Rigi is said to be a product of the radical Sunni madrasas in Pakistan that have turned out a great number of "jihadist" fighters for the whole region, from Kashmir to Afghanistan. But whereas tolerating and even supporting these madrasas was at some point in the interests of the ISI, the case of Rigi and the Jundallah seems to be another example where this strategy backfired.

Islamabad is interested in good relations with Tehran, not least for economic reason. And after several officers of the elite Revolutionary Guards were killed in Pishin, Iran was furious at Pakistan. "Rigi's arrest will withdraw a reason of tension and conflict between Iran and Pakistan," says Dudoignon. "Since the Pisheen attack of October 2009 the Iranian will to obtain Rigi's delivery by the Pakistani security services was absolutely at the core of the bilateral relations between Tehran and Islamabad."

The circumstances of Abdolmalek Rigi's arrest have been as mysterious as the Jundallah. Tehran claims to have grounded his plane while he was flying from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan. It is possible that Iran and Pakistan will come up with a detailed official explanation in the next few days. But whether it will be true is another question.

Author: Thomas Bärthlein
Editor: Disha Uppal