Five Iranian border guards rescued in Pakistan

A senior military official in Iran has confirmed that five Iranian border guards who were kidnapped and transferred to Pakistan are among eleven hostages freed in an apparent rescue operation.
Iranian Armed Forces’ Deputy Chief of Staff Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said at a Saturday press conference in the Iranian city of Qom that the five Iranian border guards were rescued.
Earlier on Saturday Pakistani officials announced that their security forces had freed eleven foreign hostages, including eight Iranians and three Tunisians that had been held by militants in the southwest town of Turbat near the Iranian border.
Five Iranian border guards were abducted in Jakigour region of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province on February 6 and taken to Pakistani territory.
The so-called Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the abductions.
On Thursday, the terrorist group threatened to execute the Iranian border guards in retaliation for the alleged hanging of one of their operatives in Iran.
Iran has repeatedly declared that it holds the Pakistani government responsible for the lives of the Iranian hostages.
A week ago, Tehran and Islamabad held a joint border commission meeting in the Pakistani city of Quetta to discuss the abductions.
In February 2013, Iran and Pakistan signed a security agreement under which both countries are required to cooperate in preventing and combating organized crime, fighting terrorism and countering the activities that pose a threat to the national security of either country.
Iran has repeatedly called on Pakistan to comply with the terms of the agreement.