Following these clashes, the Iranian authorities hanged 16 "rebels", a judicial official said. PHOTO: FILE
It gave no more detail on the identity of the armed group, but security forces have fought drug traffickers before in the border region with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The area also has a history of unrest, with the mainly Sunni Muslim population complaining of discrimination at the hands of Iran's Shia Muslim authorities.
IRNA quoted an unnamed official saying the fighting took place in the southeast Sistan-Baluchistan province and the exact number of dead had not been confirmed.
Following these clashes, the Iranian authorities hanged 16 "rebels", a judicial official said.
"Sixteen rebels linked to groups hostile to the regime were hanged this morning in the prison of Zahedan in response to the death of border guards in Saravan," Mohammad Marzieh, the attorney general of Sistan-Baluchestan province, was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.
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Iranian justice system is the only way to deal with terrorists, smugglers, rebels and separatists. In Pakistan too, for every innocent death, two terrorists should be hanged. In Baluchistan, if separatists kill one Punjabi, two separatists should be hanged. Why two for one, because we have so many.
@okay: Yes and you can check how many Pakistanis have been beheaded in KSA on drug peddling charges without a fair trial. Yet the only person PM of Pakistan cares about is Aafia.
@syed baqar ahsan:
Bro, don't your so called muslim brothers have brain ?? Even if anyone funds, yet they are fully aware what they are doing. Or are they really mad. :-(
No matter who is killed but foreign money and their influence has a very serious role for killing of muslims each other .
According to some sources, all those hanged were Sunnis.
@Insaan: you are right. Drug smugglers have been killed on Indian border also. Pakistan and Afghanistan region is becoming like South America where drug mafia are operating. PIA's involvement has been reported many times. Terrorism and drug trade make a good cocktail for Pakistan's disaster. If a Suicide bomber's kith and kin are looked after so well, one can imagine how much they might be paying to the kith and kin of dead smugglers.
ET you forgot to use the word "alleged"! Iranian border guards fighting alleged 'rebels' near Pakistan, and even hanged 16 alleged 'rebels'? How dare they! Those Iranian guards are Indian agents, just like the Afghans. And these alleged 'rebels' were not militants but freedom fighters! Is it that hard to see that Indians are involved in this attack to defame Madina-e-Sani Pakistan in the world? No Muslim can kill a Muslim! Those Iranian guards were Hindu RAW Agents and they even wore a saffron band on their wrists.
Drugs trafficking is a big money making business in Pakistan. I have a feeling Pakistan army and other government officials are involved in this business and PIA is also used for drug exports. Just search "PIA" and drugs on the Internet.
@okay: they were pakis thats y they were hung without trial... get it?? even if pakis are hung or killed who cares.... burden on earth is reduced... rejoice :D
So there is no concern that these may have been Pakistani citizens hung without trial?