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Iran claims one of its five abducted border guards has been killed

Pakistan authorities on Monday said it was investigating claims by rebels of killing the border guards.

Reuters March 24, 2014

The five Iranian border guards were kidnapped in early February. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

DUBAI: Militants, who had kidnapped five Iranian border guards in February, claimed that they had killed one of the hostage soldiers, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported on Monday.

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)

TruePakistan | 10 years ago | Reply Nothing which happens on the Pakistan Iran border goes un noticed. Unfortunately it is not the Pakistani authorities who observe the comings and goings across the border but USA military personal. Pakistan has no jurisdiction on this border what so ever. It is said that there are times when up to 60000 USA troops are present in Balochistan. General Haydar who was once the defence Minister of Musharraf complained to Musharraf that even he did not know that there were 60000 USA troops Balochistan.

Mexon | 10 years ago | Reply Pakistan is very poor in guarding it's borders, this is really obvious for all Pakistan's neighbors. Pakistan is not able to protect it's borders so it is changing Pakistan into a place for formation of radical and intemperate groups. if you have a little political study you can see Pakistan what has done for Afghanistan's security, you can see tensions which directly managed in the west on India. so it's clear Pakistan is not able to guaranty even security of Pakistani people so how this country wants to protect it's borders. "M. Bakhtiar" if you were in Iran you could understand Iran's Sistan & Baluchistan people really like there country. even if you had some research you could understand the main victim of these terrorists groups are only Sistan & Baluchistan's people. this means these terrorist groups have not any popular place even between Sistan & Baluchistan. After this kidnapping Iran's politicians had many contacts with Pakistan's politicians. but Pakistanian did not any thing in action. Hope Pakistan have better relation with all neighbors.

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Asad Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

@Sandip:

.....terrorists go into India to indulge in attacks on Indian posts

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,

M. Bakhtiar | 10 years ago | Reply

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.

Schabboo Khan | 10 years ago | Reply

@Sandip: Good point!

Salman | 10 years ago | Reply

Very sad news!

Sandip | 10 years ago | Reply

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?

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