Official: Iran in Constant Contact with Pakistan over Abducted Border Guards
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian military official said Tehran is seriously pursuing the fate of the five Iranian border guards recently abducted by a terrorist group in southeastern regions and taken to the Pakistani territory.
Speaking on Monday, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for Coordination Amir Saadi said the five abducted border guards are alive, and will return to their families soon.
“There are certainly a series of political and military relations between us and Pakistani officials, but there will be no compromise with Pakistan which has allowed such (terrorist) groups' stationing in its soil,” Saadi stated.
That is while thousdands of Internet users signed an online petition, calling for the immediate release of five Iranian border guards who have been abducted and taken to Pakistan by a terrorist group.
“Free Iranian Soldiers” petition so far has collected more than 30,000 signatures by Feb. 15 since being registered by ipetitions.com.
The online petition asks United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer to put efforts into devising plans to secure the life and health of the kidnapped Iranian border guards, and to free them as soon as possible.
Five Iranian border guards were abducted in Jakigour region in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province on February 6 and taken to the Pakistani territory.
Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
