The Iranian border guards that were released in Pakistan after being abducted by Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group have returned home, Iran’s interior minister has announced. |
In a message on Sunday, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said efforts by security and diplomatic bodies and locals have borne fruit and four of the five abducted border guards have been freed and reunited with their families.
He added that the groups and individuals who have become playthings in the hands of spy agencies of foreign countries carry out desperate but futile measures in border regions to create insecurity.
However, they will fail to achieve any result in light of the wisdom and prudence of the Iranian forces, he emphasized.
The minister noted that during efforts to secure the release of the Iranian guards, Iran observed principles of good neighborliness and self-restraint with respect to Pakistan, where the Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group had taken refuge.
He expressed hope that Pakistan would take greater responsibility for controlling and ensuring security along its border with Iran to prevent terrorist groups from undermining the cordial Tehran-Islamabad relations.
The Salafi terrorist group announced on Friday the release of the Iranian guards through Saudi news channel al-Arabiyah, with which it has close ties.
Jaish-ul-Adl terrorists kidnapped five Iranian border guards in Jakigour region in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan on February 6 and took them to the Pakistani territory.
The group later announced it had executed one of the guards. Iran invited Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran in connection with the announced killing.
News of the abduction also sparked a massive social media campaign by Iranian and international activists known as “Free Iranian Soldiers,” calling for the release of the five Iranian border guards.
On October 25, 2013, the terrorist group also killed 14 Iranian border guards and wounded six others in a border region near the city of Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
Iran and Pakistan signed a security agreement in February 2013, under which both countries are required to cooperate in preventing and combating organized crime, fighting terrorism and countering activities that pose a threat to the national security of either country.
Iran has repeatedly called on Pakistan to abide by the terms of the agreement.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/04/06/357431/freed-iranian-border-guards-back-home/