Iranˈs Abducted Border Guards Fully Safe: Official

Tehran, Feb 18, IRNA – Acting Interior Minister Hosseinali Amiri said the five abducted Iranian border guards are in complete health and safety. He told IRNA on Tuesday that he was optimistic about the release of the border guards who were abducted by a terrorist group and taken into Pakistan. Saying that the ministry of foreign affairs as well as other related officials are helping his ministry in closely following up the case, he noted that the Foreign Ministry officials have already had talks with Pakistani officials in this regard. He said Iran has urged Pakistan through legal and international methods to frankly follow up the case. The official further voiced Iranˈs readiness and might to provide security in the region. The Iranian guards were abducted in the Iranian southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan on February 6 and were transferred to Pakistan. Later, the so-called Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group posted photos of the five men on twitter and claimed responsibility for the abduction. Jaish-ul-Adl’s name was raised for the first time in October when they killed 14 Iranian border guards in an ambush near the city of Saravan in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan. The group claimed responsibly for the attack and said it was in retaliation for the alleged role of Iran in the Syrian crisis and the purported unfair treatment of Sunnis in Iran. According to Hojjatoleslam Ebrahim Hamidi, head of Justice Department of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran has also asked the Interpol to track down the kidnappers./end