Pakistan must act on Iranian guards: Foreign Ministry official

A senior Iranian official has called on Pakistan to fulfill its responsibility regarding the five Iranian border guards who were abducted and transferred to the country recently.

“Unfortunately, extremist and violent movements have significantly grown and strengthened in the Islamic world these days,” said Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi on Sunday.

He added, “Certain currents and countries in the Muslim world, disregarding the ominous outcomes of the rise of extremism, attempt to reinforce and spread this ideology through financial and logistical support.”

The Iranian diplomat further noted that Tehran believes that besides the adoption of effective measures to confront extremism, the responsibility for the release of the abducted Iranian border guards mainly lies with Islamabad.

“While we understand the Pakistani government’s limitations, we think that with strong political resolve and joint measures, a plan can be devised to fight this dangerous phenomenon and its ominous consequences, particularly given the fact that the growth of extremism in part affects our border regions and the safety and the lives of the Iranians living along the borders,” Sarmadi pointed out.

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 has claimed responsibility for the abductions.

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.