Deputy Interior Minister:
Pakistan Has Failed to Meet Iran’s Demands
TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Hussein Zolfaqari on Wednesday criticized neighboring Pakistan over a recent deadly attack that martyred 27 troops in southeastern Iran.
"The Pakistani steps have not met our aspirations in the war against terrorists," Zolfaqari said in statements cited by the ISNA news agency.
He said Islamabad had taken some steps in the fight against terrorism in recent years, "but given the level of threats, this didn't meet our aspirations”.
Last week, at least 27 members of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) were martyred when a bomb-laden vehicle targeted a bus carrying them on a road in the Sistan and Baluchestan province.
The IRGC has said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supported the attack, claimed by Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group which is linked to Al-Qaeda.
Islamabad, for its part, condemned the bombing "in the strongest terms."
"Shocked and grieved to hear about the suicide attack on IRGC bus near Zahedan, in which many lives were lost. Deepest sympathies with the families of those who have suffered in this heinous attack of terror," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Faisal said on Twitter.
The man who carried out the terrorist bombing was Pakistani, a senior IRGC commander said on Tuesday.
Another member of the terrorist cell that planned the attack was also a Pakistani citizen, the head of the IRGC’s ground forces Brigadier General Muhammad Pakpour said.
Iran has repeatedly blamed Pakistan for sheltering militants connected with attacks in the border area, although Tuesday’s remarks appeared to be the first time Tehran has said Pakistani citizens were directly involved in the attack.
Three Iranians from Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeast Iran were also part of the cell and two of them have been arrested, according to Pakpour. The guards announced three arrests in the case on Monday.
"Today Saudi Arabia is the heart of evil in the region and the world,” Brigadier General Hussein Salami, the deputy head of the IRGC, said on Tuesday at a ceremony commemorating those martyred in the attack.
Remnants of the car used in the suicide attack were given to the police, Pakpour said. Once the owner of the car was identified, intelligence and security forces carried out arrests.
The terrorists had planned to carry out multiple attacks, Pakpour said: "This group had prepared a lot of ammunition and equipment.”
"The Pakistani steps have not met our aspirations in the war against terrorists," Zolfaqari said in statements cited by the ISNA news agency.
He said Islamabad had taken some steps in the fight against terrorism in recent years, "but given the level of threats, this didn't meet our aspirations”.
Last week, at least 27 members of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) were martyred when a bomb-laden vehicle targeted a bus carrying them on a road in the Sistan and Baluchestan province.
The IRGC has said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supported the attack, claimed by Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group which is linked to Al-Qaeda.
Islamabad, for its part, condemned the bombing "in the strongest terms."
"Shocked and grieved to hear about the suicide attack on IRGC bus near Zahedan, in which many lives were lost. Deepest sympathies with the families of those who have suffered in this heinous attack of terror," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Muhammad Faisal said on Twitter.
The man who carried out the terrorist bombing was Pakistani, a senior IRGC commander said on Tuesday.
Another member of the terrorist cell that planned the attack was also a Pakistani citizen, the head of the IRGC’s ground forces Brigadier General Muhammad Pakpour said.
Iran has repeatedly blamed Pakistan for sheltering militants connected with attacks in the border area, although Tuesday’s remarks appeared to be the first time Tehran has said Pakistani citizens were directly involved in the attack.
Three Iranians from Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeast Iran were also part of the cell and two of them have been arrested, according to Pakpour. The guards announced three arrests in the case on Monday.
"Today Saudi Arabia is the heart of evil in the region and the world,” Brigadier General Hussein Salami, the deputy head of the IRGC, said on Tuesday at a ceremony commemorating those martyred in the attack.
Remnants of the car used in the suicide attack were given to the police, Pakpour said. Once the owner of the car was identified, intelligence and security forces carried out arrests.
The terrorists had planned to carry out multiple attacks, Pakpour said: "This group had prepared a lot of ammunition and equipment.”