The five Iranian border guards were kidnapped in early February. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
It identified the victim as Jamshid Danaeefar, shown sitting against a mud wall in an unidentified location with the other four captives in a grainy photo apparently taken by their captors.
Fars, quoting an "informed source", said the four other hostages were in good health, without giving further details.
The guards were seized while patrolling the lawless frontier with Pakistan in early February. Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), an Iranian rebel group in Sistan-Baluchistan province later claimed responsibility. The group said on its website on Sunday that it had killed the border guard.
Neither Tehran nor Islamabad could immediately confirm the report.
Pakistani authorities said on Monday they were still investigating.
Sistan-Baluchistan an impoverished province bordering Pakistan, is host to a small group of rebels who are against the government in Tehran. The lawless province is also used by drugs and arms traffickers.
Iran had initially accused that the guards had been taken into Pakistan. The claim was refuted by Pakistan and subsequent raids by Pakistani officials found no sign of them.
The kidnapping further inflamed tension between Tehran and Islamabad over sectarian violence. Iran accuses Pakistan of supporting the rebels.
COMMENTS (7)
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@Sandip:
It questions the ability / training / moral of Indian border guards who more akin to sleep in their posts or become yellow when they saw " armed terrorists" and pretend see no evil.
So then the question is why Indian govt waste billions on defence / borders while it has more malnourished children than the whole sub-saharan Africa.
(PS. US cant even fully curb the Human Smugglers, Drug traffickers, outlaws activity on its border of Mexico despite having a high tech mechanisms.)
regards,
Would it be really farfetched to suggest that, the very idea of Pakistan being created in the first place has proven to be a gigantic mistake? The enormity of which, without doubt, equals only in size to the enormity of deep-rooted social, economic and political problems facing that country. A lawless land without a recognisable state to justify its very existence; not only in the eyes of its own population, but also to the rest of the world. As for the neighbouring Iran, having exhausted all avenues in dealing with this lawless and un-civilised neighbour to its east. The only viable option, short of militarily securing Pakistan's side of the border region, is to down-grade diplomatic relation, and minimise all contacts with that country. This of course, should be re-enforced with high voltage and security walls every inch of the length of Iran's side of the frontier. And as for those minority criminal & disloyal Baloochies, living in the Sistan & Baluchistan’s side of Iran, the Islamic Republic should, in no uncertain terms make it absolutely understood: If they [Baloochies] believe their status as Sunnis would make it impossible to be loyal citizens of Iran. Then, by all means, they can give-up their citizenship and move to the Pakistani side of the border, as non-Iranians [And] never to return.
@Sandip: Good point!
Very sad news!
How many lawless frontiers does Pakistan have. FATA is not in control, border with Iran is lawless, on the eastern border with India, Pakistan doesn't know when terrorists go into India to indulge in attacks on Indian posts. One must then questions as to where exactly are the security institutions of Pakistan present?