India-Pakistan: January 18, 2005

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The separatist Baluchistan National Army (BNA), which seeks to make southeastern Pakistan a separate nation, is increasing the number of terrorist attacks. Pakistan is blaming Iran. There is something to this, as Iran has financed the BNA, and given sanctuary to its fighters, for decades.  Actually, most of this "support" comes not from the Iranian government, but from Baluchi tribes across the border in Iran. The Baluchi tribes are spread across a swath of land covering Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Tribal ties are more important than national ones. But in the past year, the government controlled Iranian radio network has been broadcasting pro-BNA propaganda into Pakistan.