Iran Urges Swift Action by Pakistan on Kidnapped Guards
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces on Saturday urged Pakistan to make an effort to release the Iranian border guards who were kidnapped recently and transferred to Pakistan.
"Considering the bilateral agreements between the two countries' armed forces on ensuring the security of common borders, we expect the Pakistani armed forces to take necessary measures and push for the immediate release of the abducted (Iranian) soldiers and border guards," Muhammad Hussein Baqheri said in a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Baqheri also urged Pakistan to reinforce the presence of its security forces along the common borders with Iran, to promote security and stability in those areas, and to prevent acts of terrorism.
For his part, the Pakistani general expressed regret over the abduction of Iranian forces, and expressed hope that Pakistan would soon arrest the kidnappers and free the Iranian abductees.
On Tuesday, 14 Iranian border guards were kidnapped by a terrorist group in Mirjaveh border point in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
The Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group, which is based in Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the kidnap.
Baqeri called on Pakistan to take "immediate and severe" action to arrest terrorists behind the abduction.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Tuesday that Pakistan should instantly adopt all necessary measures to help release the abducted Iranian forces.
"The Pakistani government should immediately implement all necessary means and measures to free border guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran and arrest the wicked terrorists," Qasemi added.
In a letter to his Pakistani counterpart Shehryar Khan Afridi on Wednesday, Iran’s Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli urged the neighboring country to spare no effort in securing the release of the abductees.
Islamabad, he added, should fully honor its obligations under bilateral security agreements, which require it to prevent attacks targeting Iranian border posts from the Pakistani side.
"Considering the bilateral agreements between the two countries' armed forces on ensuring the security of common borders, we expect the Pakistani armed forces to take necessary measures and push for the immediate release of the abducted (Iranian) soldiers and border guards," Muhammad Hussein Baqheri said in a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Baqheri also urged Pakistan to reinforce the presence of its security forces along the common borders with Iran, to promote security and stability in those areas, and to prevent acts of terrorism.
For his part, the Pakistani general expressed regret over the abduction of Iranian forces, and expressed hope that Pakistan would soon arrest the kidnappers and free the Iranian abductees.
On Tuesday, 14 Iranian border guards were kidnapped by a terrorist group in Mirjaveh border point in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
The Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group, which is based in Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the kidnap.
Baqeri called on Pakistan to take "immediate and severe" action to arrest terrorists behind the abduction.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Tuesday that Pakistan should instantly adopt all necessary measures to help release the abducted Iranian forces.
"The Pakistani government should immediately implement all necessary means and measures to free border guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran and arrest the wicked terrorists," Qasemi added.
In a letter to his Pakistani counterpart Shehryar Khan Afridi on Wednesday, Iran’s Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli urged the neighboring country to spare no effort in securing the release of the abductees.
Islamabad, he added, should fully honor its obligations under bilateral security agreements, which require it to prevent attacks targeting Iranian border posts from the Pakistani side.