Eight Pakistani workers from Bahawalpur, shot dead in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, their lives executed in cold blood. The banned Balochistan National Army swiftly jumped to the front, claiming responsibility and adding yet another layer of complexity to already strained ties. This is the second such massacre in the last year, a chilling echo of the Saravan killings. Sadly, the bout of violence screams as a scathing commentary on how long two neighbouring states can afford to let fire spill across their border before diplomacy burns with it, more than the militants and their agendas. The nearly 900-kilometre Pak-Iran border has long been a corridor for smuggling, insurgency, and mistrust. Despite periodic efforts, including fencing projects and the establishment of border markets, security remains elusive. The January 2024 tit-for-tat missile strikes, where both nations targeted militant hideouts across the border, marked a dangerous escalation. Even as both nations couched their actions in the language of “sovereignty” and “security,” the underlying message was clear: patience has limits. For now, Pakistan’s Foreign Office speaks of maintaining contact with Iranian authorities, emphasizing the urgent necessity for a swift and thorough investigation into this latest atrocity. Similarly, a statement from the Iranian ambassador condemned terrorism as a “chronic plight and a common threat.” A right approach indeed, as the two nations share a complex legacy of intermittent, often cautious cooperation. From supporting Afghan peace dialogues to managing border commissions, they have found common ground in the shared objective of combating the spectre of terrorism. The economic story is similar: Pakistan relies on Iranian gas, and the long-gestating Iran-Pakistan pipeline still dangles as an unfulfilled promise of energy security. But security crises like these derail any fragile progress made on these fronts. Condemnations, while necessary, ring hollow in the face of unanswered and deeply uncomfortable questions. Why was a banned group able to operate so openly? And more urgently, how can two states that share a vast, porous and restive terrain continue to manage it with little more than reactive diplomacy? The need for a strategic reset remains as critical as ever. First and foremost, the Border Security Agreement 2013 should be revitalized; not just in form, but in function. Joint patrols and intelligence fusion cells should become operational. As is the case with Kabul, Islamabad would have to pursue deliberations with Tehran on red lines and rapid-response mechanisms. There’s no other way about it. Civilian deaths, regardless of location, must trigger comprehensive investigations, not blame games. Ultimately, if authorities on both sides genuinely wish to avoid witnessing their shared region tragically written in the blood of their citizens, they need to urgently move beyond the cycle of reactive measures and invest in building a robust and enduring long-term partnership. *