Iran urges intl. bids to free abducted border guards

Iran’s Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli slams global inaction on the abduction case of the five Iranian border guards, saying international organizations are duty-bound to intervene in the matter.

“The so-called advocates of human rights should pay special attention to the issue of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s kidnapped border guards,” Rahmani Fazli told reporters on Tuesday.

He added that Iran is seriously pursuing the fate and release of its border guards who were kidnapped and transferred to Pakistan in early February.

Iran carried out all necessary and diplomatic activities to secure the release of the abductees and held direct and even unofficial talks over the issue, he noted.

“Regarding all efforts, it seems that we will witness promising news about the state of the abducted border guards in the near future,” the Iranian minister said.

The Iranian border guards were abducted in Jakigour region of Sistan-and-Baluchestan Province on February 6 and taken to the Pakistani territory.

The so-called Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the abductions.

Iran has declared that it holds the Pakistani government responsible for the lives of the Iranian hostages.

On October 25, 2013, Jaish-ul-Adl killed 14 Iranian border guards and wounded six others in the border region near the city of Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

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.