Tehran has already put in place extra
security along the border following the kidnapping of five border guards last month. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Iran’s police chief has hinted that his country would seal its border with Pakistan any time. “It is very important to ensure security on the eastern border,” Brigadier General Ahmadi Moqaddam was quoted as saying by state-run IRNA news agency on Sunday.
Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province borders Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Tehran has already put in place extra security along the border following the kidnapping of five border guards last month.
“Sealing the eastern borders will soon result in major changes in Sistan-Baluchestan province. We will witness major changes and developments in this region by sealing the borders,” Moqaddam told journalists in Tehran.
He vowed a ‘crushing response to any terrorist who dares to threaten’ the country’s border security. “We pursue any assassination and murder until resolving the problem,” he said while pointing to terrorist acts in Sistan-Baluchestan.
Moqaddam referred to the emergence of Jeish al Adl terrorist group after Jundollah ringleader Abdel Malik Rigi was arrested and executed in Iran.
“A new terrorist group has started operation to continue Rigi’s work since last year and it has committed murders in the southern parts of the country and they attack people under the cover of defending the Sunnis, while everyone knows that we are not practicing religious segregation and discrimination,” he said.
“The people of that region are not happy” with the group’s operations either “because insecurity halts progress and advancement”, he added.
Five Iranian border guards were abducted by Jeish al Adl in early February. Four of them were freed after two months, while the fate of the fifth one is not clear yet.
Last month, President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister’s Special Envoy Sartaj Aziz in Tehran underlined the need for the removal of security concerns at the two countries’ common border.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that security and tranquility in Pakistan is interrelated with its own security and tranquility,” Rouhani said during the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2014.
COMMENTS (25)
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@Ali Reza: A beggar nation should not point finger at an independent proud country like Iran who has self respect. Iran is not begging anybody nor allowing some filthy royals to shoot their rare birds.
All neighbours except China may seal their borders with Pakistan soon for exporting terrorism and WHO recommendation on polio against this country.
@Sultan Mehmood:
Iran has been chanting death to America for over 3 decades - you really think there afraid of Pakistan's nukes? Nukes have proven practically useless in intimidating others let alone stopping wars ... when in doubt ask the USA, UK, China, France, Russia, India or your own govt.
India should seal the border too...
WHO recommends travel restrictions on Pakistan
Iran sealing its border with Pakistan is as good as Pakistan sealing its border with Iran. Millions of dollars saved by Pakistan through this...very clever.
@Mirza: Never thought that you also held sarcasm in your weaponry! Nice use.
Ouch !........then how will Nawaz Sharif get in on the 11th.
Agree with @Harris, out of the countries in the world today, Pakistan has the title of being the most UNRELIABLE. It is a good idea that Iran totally contains itself from Pakistan. Don't like other countries, outsourcing their militant crap into Pakistan by brainwashing desperate people and those in power are heavily protected, nothing will happen to them so obviously it is imperative Iran seals it off. Think China too is getting increasingly annoyed with Pakistan too which is not good at all.
Pakistan should simply fence and mine its western borders also, just like the eastern border with India. If done it will help Pakistan tremendously in checking terrorism and also smuggling, and also save it from the blame game. But then one wonders why is it not being done???
Love Ummah...
This gonna help both Iran and Pakistan financially as well.
Its nice to see Iran standing up for itself. Nukes have no meaning if the opposite side is determined to defend its country.
@water bottle. Our borders have been sealed decades ago.
Every one is fencing there border worrying about wrong elements in pakistan.
@G: When has he ever blamed Israel for anything?
This is a hate campaign against our peaceful country. Everybody is safe and peaceful. Even OBL and other high value targets were safe in our safest places. All the Taliban are busy in Quetta Shura and everybody knows their peaceful activities except all our neighbors.
@ Sultan Mehmood....it is really very sad to see that a nuclear- country is having to receive such petty threats from a non-nuclear country :( time has come to such a pass ..... very sad indeed!
@Harris:
Good point. Imran Khan will blame it on Israel.
Iran is an extremist sectarian state, which discriminates against Sunnis and other minorities. The fact is that Azeris, Ahvaz Arabs, and Balochi people are being forced to remain second class citizens. The kidnapping of Iranian soldiers is a hoax, and the world knows it.
Iran betrayed both Ottoman empire and Mughal empire by joining hands with Crusaders and Hindu bandits to weaken Islamic rule. History always repeats itself.
China, Afghanistan, India and Iran have all complained about Pakistan not being able to control their borders.
Shameful.
Clearly, Pakistan's British and American teachers haven't taught you proper border management.
That's quite rash, and it will push Pakistan towards Saudi Arabia. One side is funding billions of dollars and other is making threats on issues that government is not even responsible. Iran during Shah's regime has been a great friend. Pakistani government should try to address the concerns of Iran, but Iran has to be more diplomatic too. Threats to a nuclear country serves no one!
It would help pakistan just in case they seal the border no smuggling of petroleum products of iran to pakistan which cause loss to pakistan exchanger and also it will help the smuggling of food stuff from pakistan to iran causing increase in cost for our domestic market