Four Iranian soldiers rescued by Pakistan security forces return home
Brigadier General says happy on the return of soldiers at the beginning of Iranian year
Brigadier-General Mohammad Pakpour (3rd-L), commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ground forces, welcomes four freed Iranian border guards who had been held captive by a militant group in Pakistan's restive southwest, upon their arrival at an undisclosed location in Iran on March 22, 2019. - The four Iranian border guards were among the 12 Iranian security personnel, who were abducted in October last year by the Sunni jihadist group Jaish al-Adl, rescued by the Pakistan military from militants and returned to Tehran to a hero's welcome, state television reported. PHOTO: AFP
TEHRAN:
The four Iranian border guards rescued by the Pakistan military from militants returned on Friday to Tehran to a hero's welcome, state television reported.
Live footage showed the soldiers dressed in suits stepping off an Antonov 74 transport aircraft and welcomed by their commander, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour who heads the Revolutionary Guards ground forces.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday that the security forces conducted an intelligence operation (IBO) at Amori in the Chaghai district of Balochistan, about three to four kilometres from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Pakistan security forces recover 4 kidnapped Iranian soldiers
“Terrorists of the proscribed organisation were reported to have entered Pakistan from Afghanistan side along with abducted Iranian soldiers,” the ISPR statement said. “After an exchange of fire four Iranian soldiers recovered from a transitioning hideout,” it added.
"I am happy that these soldiers are returning to their families at the beginning of the new (Iranian) year, but I am also saddened that the remaining soldiers are still in captivity," Pakpour told state television.
The families of the remaining soldiers should rest assured, Pakpour added, that "we will do what is necessary to free them as well".
At least 12 Iranian security personnel, including members of the Revolutionary Guards, were kidnapped on the border with Pakistan last year in October.
Five of them were safely recovered a month after the abduction.
The four Iranian border guards rescued by the Pakistan military from militants returned on Friday to Tehran to a hero's welcome, state television reported.
Live footage showed the soldiers dressed in suits stepping off an Antonov 74 transport aircraft and welcomed by their commander, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour who heads the Revolutionary Guards ground forces.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday that the security forces conducted an intelligence operation (IBO) at Amori in the Chaghai district of Balochistan, about three to four kilometres from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Pakistan security forces recover 4 kidnapped Iranian soldiers
“Terrorists of the proscribed organisation were reported to have entered Pakistan from Afghanistan side along with abducted Iranian soldiers,” the ISPR statement said. “After an exchange of fire four Iranian soldiers recovered from a transitioning hideout,” it added.
"I am happy that these soldiers are returning to their families at the beginning of the new (Iranian) year, but I am also saddened that the remaining soldiers are still in captivity," Pakpour told state television.
The families of the remaining soldiers should rest assured, Pakpour added, that "we will do what is necessary to free them as well".
At least 12 Iranian security personnel, including members of the Revolutionary Guards, were kidnapped on the border with Pakistan last year in October.
Five of them were safely recovered a month after the abduction.