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Iran expresses gratitude to Pakistan over release of border guards

Banned militant organisation abducted 12 guards in October last year on Sistan-Balochistan border

Reuters March 21, 2019

Iranian border security guards who were abducted last year released by Pakistan security forces. PHOTO: EPA/FILE

LONDON: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Bahram Qasemi on Thursday thanked the government of Pakistan for its efforts to facilitate the release of four security personnel, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Four Iranian border guards kidnapped last year by a militant group on the border with Pakistan were released on Wednesday, the spokesperson said.

The banned militant organisation abducted 12 border guards in October 2018 on the border in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province. Five of the guards were released in November.

Iranian terrorist group claims responsibility for troops’ abduction near Pakistan border

On Wednesday, Pakistan's security forces had recovered four kidnapped Iranian soldiers after an exchange of fire with terrorists belonging to a proscribed organisation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The media wing of the military said that the forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) at Amori in the Chaghai district of Balochistan, about three to four kilometres from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

“Terrorists of a proscribed organisation were reported to have entered Pakistan from Afghanistan side along with abducted Iranian soldiers,” the ISPR statement said. “After exchange of fire 4 Iranian soldiers recovered from a transitioning hideout,” it added.