Pakistan’s Secret Hand in the Assassination of Iran’s Top General

On May 27, 2025, what seemed like a simple gesture of diplomatic goodwill may have carried deadly intent. According to an MI6 intelligence leak, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, allegedly gifted a high-end wristwatch—suspected of concealing an electronic interceptor beacon—to Iran’s top military commander, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, during a private meeting in Rawalpindi.

Within 72 hours of this closed-door encounter, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad reportedly used precise geolocation data to eliminate Bagheri in a targeted strike near the Iranian border with Syria—a region long known to be a corridor of Iranian IRGC-Quds Force operations. The unprecedented accuracy of the strike raised red flags in Tehran, prompting a quiet but urgent internal probe into the possibility of electronic compromise. Now, with fingers pointing to an unlikely collaborator—Pakistan—the Islamic Republic finds itself questioning the loyalty of a nation it once considered a strategic Islamic ally.

Behind the Scenes: Mossad, MI6, and a Watch

The British MI6 report, circulated discreetly among Five Eyes partners and later leaked to select Middle Eastern outlets, paints a damning picture. Sources allege that the wristwatch was embedded with a miniature beacon—likely activated after contact—that relayed General Bagheri’s movements in real time. Experts suggest such devices, small enough to be inserted into the casing of a luxury timepiece, can transmit encrypted signals across vast distances using satellite relays or local cellular networks.

Mossad, known for leveraging human intelligence and advanced signal interception technologies, has reportedly been hunting senior IRGC figures involved in arms transfers to Hezbollah and Syria. Bagheri, who oversaw Iran’s foreign military operations, was high on that list.

The strike’s timing—days after the supposed gift exchange—raises troubling questions: Did Pakistan knowingly facilitate this operation? Or was it merely a pawn in a much larger intelligence game directed by the West?

Strategic Games or Subtle Betrayals?

Publicly, Pakistan and Iran have maintained a carefully managed narrative of Islamic brotherhood, joint border security, and economic partnership, especially under the China-Iran-Pakistan corridor discussions. But under the surface, tensions have simmered for years. Iran has accused Pakistan of harboring anti-Shia and separatist elements, especially Baloch insurgents operating across the shared border. Meanwhile, Islamabad views Iran’s deepening military ties with India and Afghanistan with suspicion.

Some intelligence analysts suggest Pakistan may be hedging its bets in a volatile region. By subtly aligning with Western intelligence agencies—or even indirectly with Israel—Pakistan could be attempting to clean up its image post-Afghanistan and strengthen its case for more aid and defense support from the U.S. and Gulf monarchies.

Others argue this is part of a broader, long-term realignment in West Asia. With Saudi-Israeli normalization talks back on the table and the Abraham Accords still shaping regional diplomacy, Pakistan may see advantage in quietly cultivating backchannels to Tel Aviv—using shared anti-Iran sentiment as a bridge.

Iran’s Calculated Silence

Interestingly, Iran has not officially accused Pakistan of betrayal, nor has it released any details about the Bagheri assassination. Tehran’s silence may indicate internal uncertainty—or fear of exposing just how deeply its upper echelons may have been penetrated. Leaks from within the Iranian IRGC suggest a complete communications blackout was ordered following the strike, with emergency vetting of all foreign-supplied devices, including diplomatic gifts.

Iranian social media, however, has exploded with anger. Hashtags like #TraitorInUmmah and #PakSellout trended on Persian-language Twitter (X), with users questioning whether Pakistan has turned from a brotherly ally into an agent of espionage.

Implications for the Ummah Narrative

This incident could mark a turning point in how Islamic states perceive each other behind the veil of unity. While organizations like the OIC continue to promote solidarity, the ground reality suggests a world where interests often outweigh ideology.

As one Gulf-based analyst told Al-Quds Al-Arabi, “The Ummah is a myth in the age of strategic autonomy. Iran trusted Pakistan; it may have been outmaneuvered not by Zionists, but by its so-called Muslim brethren.”

Whether Pakistan played a deliberate role in aiding Mossad, or was an unwitting middleman manipulated by foreign intelligence, the consequences are profound. The Tehran-Islamabad axis, already fragile, is now burdened by a deep layer of mistrust. In an era of shifting alliances and covert wars, the watch on Bagheri’s wrist may become a symbol—not just of betrayal—but of a new Middle East where friendships are conditional, and loyalty is transactional.

If this intelligence report holds true, Pakistan stands at the crossroads of an emerging geopolitical realignment—where it must choose between old loyalties and new opportunities. But Tehran will not forget. And in the chessboard of West Asia, every move now will be watched.