Interior Minister: Pakistan Should Account for Execution of Iranian Border Guard

Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said the government in Islamabad should account for the execution of an Iranian border guard by Jeish al-Adl terrorist group in Pakistan and the insecurity at its joint borders with Iran.
“We don’t officially confirm the martyrdom of one of the border guards,” Rahmani Fazli told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of Iranian governor-generals and governors in Tehran on Monday.

“Pakistan is responsible for maintaining security at its borders and if the terrorists are sheltered in Pakistan’s territories, the country should officially account for it,” he added.

Rahmani Fazli said that based on a security agreement between the two countries, the Iranian and Pakistani officials have decided to increase cooperation to establish security at their joint borders “but we still take Pakistan responsible for maintaining security at its borders”.

His remarks came after the four abducted Iranian border guards who were released and handed over to Iranian officials in neighboring Pakistan on Friday returned home on Sunday morning two months after their abduction.

Informed source told FNA on Sunday that the four have been released as a result of the efforts made by all concerned Iranian bodies and their pressures exerted on Jeish Al-Adl to release the abducted Iranian border guards, and added, “Consensus and cooperation of all the elderlies in the region rendered great help to this result.”

Meantime, Governor-General of Iran’s Southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan province Ali Awsat Hashemi has confirmed the death of one of the five border guards, Jamshid Danayee-Far, and said Iran is waiting for the transfer of his body.

The five Iranian border guards were abducted in Jakigour region of Iran’s Sistan and Balouchestan Province on February 6 and taken to Pakistan. One of them, Danayee-Far, was killed late last month.

In relevant remarks last Thursday, Rahmani Fazli cautioned Islamabad to adopt a more responsible approach towards the safety of the five abducted Iranian border guards, one of whom was killed by Jeish Al-Adl terrorist group.

“Iran will draw on all of its capabilities along its borders with Pakistan if Islamabad does not adopt a responsible approach regarding the five Iranian border guards recently abducted by a Pakistan-based terrorist group,” Rahmani Fazli told reporters.

He reiterated that Iran will consider it as its right to use all its might to release the Iranian border guards.

The Iranian interior minister called on Pakistan to take more “measured and principled” action with respect to such issues and observe its legal obligations regarding its neighbors under international law.