OIC raps terrorist attack on Iran border guards

The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the recent deadly attack on Iranian border guards.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu reiterated the principled position of the 57-member organization in condemning all forms of terrorism, and called for an action to bring the perpetrators of the terrorist attack to justice.

Ihsanoglu also offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims as well as the Iranian government and nation, and prayed for the quick recovery of the wounded.

Seventeen Iranian border guards lost their lives and three others were wounded in a shoot-out with terrorists in the border region of Saravan in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan on October 25.

The incident prompted the Iranian interior and foreign ministries to launch a joint investigation into the incident.

Sohail Siddiqui, Pakistani charge d’affaires in Iran, says that the Iranian government has briefed Pakistan on the details of the attack and urged Islamabad to carry out an investigation into the incident.

Tehran and Islamabad have signed a security agreement to work together closely to protect their common border, Siddiqui said.

He added that if proven that the assailants are on Pakistani soil, Islamabad will arrest and deliver them to Iran under that agreement.

In February, 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 activities which pose a threat to the national security of either country.