Pakistan urges Iran to respect its borders
Govt regrets negligence on its part over the incident. Meeting with Iranian counterparts set for February 19.
Frontier Corps teams have intensively combed the entire region but could not verify the entry or presence of these Iranian border guards on its territory.
ISLAMABAD:
A day after Iran threatened to send forces into Pakistani territory to recover its five abducted soldiers, the foreign office refuted allegations of negligence over the matter but reminded that Iranian forces had no authority to cross the country’s borders.
In a statement released by the foreign office on Tuesday,
it said that the government regretted the negligence on its part over the incident.
“Pakistan has already informed the Iranian authorities that its Frontier Corps teams have intensively combed the entire region but could not verify the entry or presence of the abducted Iranian border guards on its territory,” the statement read.
The foreign office claimed that there was a possibility that the kidnappers, along with the abducted border guards, may still be hiding within Iranian territory.
“Security organisations of both the countries are in regular contact and a senior level Pak-Iran border meeting has been scheduled in Quetta for February 19, at which relevant information will be exchanged.”
The statement added that Iranian forces had no authority to cross Pakistani border, and any such attempt will be in violation of the international law.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly noted that the FO had admitted to negligence. The FO had in fact rejected its suggestion. The error is regretted.
A day after Iran threatened to send forces into Pakistani territory to recover its five abducted soldiers, the foreign office refuted allegations of negligence over the matter but reminded that Iranian forces had no authority to cross the country’s borders.
In a statement released by the foreign office on Tuesday,
it said that the government regretted the negligence on its part over the incident.
“Pakistan has already informed the Iranian authorities that its Frontier Corps teams have intensively combed the entire region but could not verify the entry or presence of the abducted Iranian border guards on its territory,” the statement read.
The foreign office claimed that there was a possibility that the kidnappers, along with the abducted border guards, may still be hiding within Iranian territory.
“Security organisations of both the countries are in regular contact and a senior level Pak-Iran border meeting has been scheduled in Quetta for February 19, at which relevant information will be exchanged.”
The statement added that Iranian forces had no authority to cross Pakistani border, and any such attempt will be in violation of the international law.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly noted that the FO had admitted to negligence. The FO had in fact rejected its suggestion. The error is regretted.