"In terms of ties with Iranian smugglers, it is possible that the Mossad had established connections with them during the 1970s, when Israel and Iran had diplomatic relations. This could have been to set up escape routes for Mossad agents and other Israelis in Iran in case other avenues out of the country were closed in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Meir Javedanfar is an Iranian-born Israeli Middle East commentator and academic. He left Iran in 1987, and now lives in Israel. He wrote about his personal experiences in Iran and how the Sochnut smuggled thousands of Iranian Jews to Pakistan.
At the time Pakistan was vehemently anti-Israel, antisemitic views were widespread among the population, and Israel had nothing to offer it. So why, from the early 1980s until the end of the operation in 1997, would the Pakistani government agree to host thousands of Iranian Jews, who were smuggled out over a decade and a half as part of a Mossad operation?
The likely answer is U.S. support: In all likelihood, once the Iranian Jews arrived on the Pakistani side of the border, U.S.-sponsored Jewish and other refugee charities were responsible for housing and helping them, until their cases were processed.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s actions did not impact its relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). When it came to Pakistan-IRI relations, their security-oriented priorities were far more important than Pakistan hosting Iranian Jews.
Pakistan returned none of the Jews who escaped across the border. Iran's Jews, including many members of my family and my synagogue in Tehran, will forever be indebted to its government and its people for hosting them."
The first Pakistani I met was a doctor working in Northern Nigeria, in Bauchi. He spoke Urdu (which is like Hindi) and had clear blue eyes. He also spoke excellent English. Later I met Pakistani and Afgan Jews in Israel, they are a branch of the Irani community.
No comments:
Post a Comment