Four Other Iranian Border Guards Freed from Terrorists: Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi announced that four other border guards, who had been abducted by terrorists at a military post near Pakistani border in October last year, have been freed.
In a statement on early on Thursday, Qassemi expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani government and army for the release of the border guards and said he hoped that the remaining abductees will be freed and return to Iran as soon as possible.
The spokesman further reiterated the strong determination of Iran and Pakistan to combat the sinister phenomenon of terrorism and the continuation of intelligence and security cooperation between te two countries.
On October 15, the so-called Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group infiltrated the country from the Pakistani side of the border and took hostage 12 border guards, local Basij forces, and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) members.
The IRGC Ground Force’s Quds Base said on that day that the local Basij forces and the border regiment forces stationed at the border post in Mirjaveh region in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan had been abducted after “acts of treason and collusion” involving an element or elements of the anti-Revolution groups who had infiltrated the country.
On November 22, the IRGC said five of the abductees returned home after consultations and interaction with Pakistan.
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.