Iran dismisses claims that kidnapped border guards were not in Pakistan

Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan prov, April 7, IRNA -- As kidnapped Iranian border guards arrived in Iran from Pakistani soil, claims previously made by Islamabad that they were not held in Pakistan turned out to be baseless, said Iranian border guard commander Hossein Zolfaqari on Sunday. Even though some Pakistani border guards made efforts to secure the release the kidnapped Iranian border guards, other Pakistani bodies, including the intelligence, army and police had no involvement in this regard, Zolfaqari said. He said their release followed joint efforts by Iranian border guards and local officials. He also said Iran is still pursuing the fate of Jamshid Danaeifar, the Iranian border guard recently said to have been killed by Jeish al-Adl terrorist group. Five Iranian border guards were abducted in Jakigour region of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province on February 6 and then taken to Pakistan.