Chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces has called out Pakistan to help in freeing the Iranian border guards who were recently abducted and allegedly shifted to Pakistan.
Mohammad Hossein Baqheri declared: “Considering the bilateral agreements between the two countries’ armed forces on ensuring the security of common borders, we expect the Pakistani armed forces to take necessary measures and push for the immediate release of the abducted (Iranian) soldiers and border guards.”
Baqheri has also urged Pakistan to tighten its security forces along the common borders with Iran, to boost security and stability in those places, as well as stopping terrorism crimes.
Meanwhile, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan’s Army Chief, expressed regret over the accident and assured Gen Baqheri of full cooperation.
He said that directives had been given to military’s Southern Command to trace the kidnapped border guards along with Pak-Iran border in close cooperation with the Iranian military.
Iranian border guards were picked up by unknown militants early on the morning of 16th October 2018.
Though the Iranian officials only confirmed abduction of fourteen personnel but some sources revealed to TBP that the actual number of abductees is nineteen. This could not be verified by independent sources.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abductions yet. However, Jaish ul Adl a splinter group of Jundullah has carried out attacks against Iranian forces in the province in past too.
Many Baloch political groups do not accept the border between Iran and Pakistan as a legitimate border. They claim it is an arbitrary line that divides Baloch nation on both sides.