Kidnapping saga: ‘Iran swapped eight militants for guards’
The abducted Iranian border guards reunited with their families on Sunday.
A file photo of an Iranian guard. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A senior official on Monday denied Iranian claims that its border guards, who were abducted by Jaishul Adl militant group, were released in Pakistan.
The abducted Iranian border guards reunited with their families on Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2014.
A senior official on Monday denied Iranian claims that its border guards, who were abducted by Jaishul Adl militant group, were released in Pakistan.
“According to our information, the Iranian border guards were released after Iran freed 8 members of the Jaishul Adl from Zahedan jail,” said the official while requesting anonymity. “The exchange took place on the Iranian soil,” the official said, adding that Tehran was deliberately trying to ‘externalise’ its own domestic problem.
The official said Pakistan extended full cooperation to the Iranian authorities to recover the abducted guards but could not find any evidence suggesting they were brought into the country.
The abducted Iranian border guards reunited with their families on Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2014.