Iran says Rigi arrested, released by Pakistan

A top commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran has information that Pakistani intelligence officials released the leader of the Jundallah terrorist group after he was arrested on their soil.

The Pakistan-based Jundallah terrorist group, which is believed to be closely affiliated with al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for numerous fatal attacks in southeastern Iran.

The latest of such terrorist attacks was launched earlier in October in the borderline region of Pishin in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province, killing more than 40 people including a number of top IRGC commanders and Shia and Sunni tribal leaders.

Following the deadly attack Iranian officials accused certain foreign countries including the US, Britain, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia of supporting Jundallah.

Speaking to Fars News Agency on Friday, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Brigadier General Hossein Salami revealed more details about Pakistan’s cooperation with Jundallah.

“We have concrete data and evidence about these terrorists’ safe houses; for example we know that on September 27 Abdulmalek Rigi was arrested in one street in Quetta [in Pakistan],” Brig. Gen. Salami said.

“He, however, was released after one hour with the intervention of intelligence agents of our neighboring country,” Salami added.

How can someone like Rigi move around in another country so freely and with such a security escort, without being watched by an intelligence organization?” he asked.

The remarks come as following the attack, Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar went on an official visit to Islamabad to discuss the deadly blast.

Tehran, on many occasions, has called on Islamabad for cooperation on broader security, asking Pakistani security officials to arrest the Jundallah leader and help disband the terrorist group.