Iran Ready for Joint Action with Pakistan to Free Abducted Forces: Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said Iran is ready for joint operations with Pakistan’s army to secure the release of its border guards who have been kidnapped on the country’s border with Pakistan.
The IRGC Ground Force said on Tuesday that a number of its troops and local Basij forces had been abducted at a border post southeast of Iran on Monday evening.
In a statement, the Force’s Quds Base said a number of local Basij forces and the border regiment forces stationed at a border post in Mirjaveh region in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan were abducted on Monday evening after acts of treason and collusion involving an element or elements of the anti-Revolution groups who had infiltrated the country.
It added that Iranian defense and security forces in the border areas have launched a manhunt to catch the outlaws, terrorists and infiltrators and are taking serious measures to free the abductees.
Later on Tuesday, Brigadier General Pakpour said members of the so-called ‘Jaish-ul-Adl’ terrorist group infiltrated the country from the Pakistani side of the border and took hostage a number of local Basij forces, border guards and two IRGC members.
He said the terrorists took the Iranian forces to the Pakistani territory.
Stressing that Pakistan should shoulder responsibility for (ensuring security in) its border areas, the commander lamented the fact that a large number of Iranian border posts have been attacked from inside Pakistan in the past six months.
“These terrorists have bases inside the Pakistanis territory and live there,” he deplored.
“The Islamic Republic is ready to carry out any joint operation with Pakistan’s army to arrest the outlaws and secure the release of the hostages and we will pursue this case until those abducted individuals safely return to their families,” he said.
Brigadier General Pakpour, who has been in the area since this morning, said contacts have already been made with the neighboring country’s army and border guards to seek guarantees that the outlaws will be handed over to Iran and the abductees will remain safe.
The IRGC is tasked with protecting the country’s northwestern and southeastern borders.
The Iranian military forces along the southeastern border areas are frequently attacked by terrorist groups coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tehran has frequently asked the two neighbors to step up security at the common border to prevent terrorist attacks on Iranian forces.
