Abducted Iranian border guards freed in Pakistan: lawmaker

[Pakistanisage]

(Reuters) - Four Iranian border guards have been freed in Pakistan two months after they were seized by al Qaeda-linked militants on the countries' lawless frontier, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted a lawmaker as saying on Friday.
The abduction in early February heightened regional and sectarian tensions. Iran had said the guards were taken into Pakistan and it threatened to send troops over the border to retrieve them.

The kidnapping was claimed by Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), a Sunni Muslim rebel group operating in predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province, which borders Pakistan. The movement said it had killed a fifth member of the group of guards in March.

"Four of the five abducted Iranian border guards have been handed over to Iranian embassy officials in Pakistan," Fars quoted Iranian lawmaker Esmail Kosari as saying.

Fars did not give any details of when the release took place or what brought it about. But Iran's Students News agency ISNA quoted a statement from Jaish al-Adl saying "Sunni clerics' mediation led to the guards' release ... as a sign of our goodwill".

Fars also said the body of the slain guard had been handed over to Tehran's embassy in Pakistan.

The Pakistani government had repeatedly said there was no evidence the Iranian guards were on its territory. The Iranian government accused its neighbour of not doing enough to free the men and of supporting the rebels.

The border region is also rife with drug and arms traffickers.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

 

[Pakistanisage]

I wonder if the status of the fifth guard is confirmed ?

 

[illusion8]

So they indeed were in Pakistan - well played Iran - right amount of pressure.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Hopefully with passage of time we can get more facts out as to who were the real masterminds behind this Criminal Activity.

 

[Serpentine]

They have killed the fifth guard and his body was handed over to Iran. he didn't even see his new born baby.

I thought hostages were not on Pakistani soil and Iran was lying about it.
@Armstrong @American Pakistani @cb4

 

[Pakistanisage]

They have killed the fifth guard and his body was handed over to Iran. he didn't even see his new born baby.

I thought hostages were not on Pakistani soil and Iran was lying about it.
@Armstrong @American Pakistani @cb4

Do you know if the purpose of Abduction was to get the release of Baluch Prisoners from Iran ?

And was such a trade made to get the Guard's release ?




Abducted Iran border guards freed by militant group - thenews.com.pk



TEHRAN: A semi-official Iranian news agency is reporting that an al-Qaida-affiliated militant group Jaish al-Adl operating in a lawless frontier area along the Pakistan-Iran border has released Iranian border guards abducted two months ago.



Friday´s report by the Fars news agency quotes an unnamed official as saying the guards were handed over to Iranian officials in Pakistan. It did not elaborate.



According to Pakistan's Interior Ministry sources this was Iran's internal matter and the guards were released as a part of Tehran's prisoner swap with Jais al-Adl.



In February, the Jaish al-Adl group abducted five Iranian guards outside Sarbaz, a town in Iran´s restive Sistan-Baluchistan province near the border with Pakistan. The guards were reportedly taken to Pakistan.



A local official said last month that one of those abducted was killed. Also in March, Iran´s President Hassan Rouhani phoned Pakistan´s Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif asking for "serious action" to free the guards.

 

[kollang]

And Yesterday, Pakistani spokewoman anounced that they have no proof regarding whether the hostages are inside Pakistan or not.

RIP

 

[Armstrong]

They have killed the fifth guard and his body was handed over to Iran. he didn't even see his new born baby.

I thought hostages were not on Pakistani soil and Iran was lying about it.
@Armstrong @American Pakistani @cb4

No one said that Iran was lying; at any rate we still don't know what happened - I'm waiting for the Pakistani Officials to respond to this !

 

[jandk]

And Yesterday, Pakistani spokewoman anounced that they have no proof regarding whether the hostages are inside Pakistan or not.

RIP

SHe was telling the truth. Pakistan probably had no clue. There is a lot of incompetence there you have to understand.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

SHe was telling the truth. Pakistan probably had no clue. There is a lot of incompetence there you have to understand.

I'd say incomprehensible.

There is no smoke without fire. Both parties concerned hold some responsibilities.

 

[Falcon29]

Good for Pakistan and Iran, hope everything between the two stays good.

 

[jandk]

I'd say incomprehensible.

There is no smoke without fire. Both parties concerned hold some responsibilities.

Pakistan cannot control its borders. Too many non state actors. That's the bottom line.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Pakistan cannot control its borders. Too many non state actors. That's the bottom line.

I don't think Pakistan is the only country which has such problem. This happens and can happen everywhere ...

Similarly, Iran never managed to secure its frontline.

 

[Jaanbaz]

This is just the start of things to come i.e Shia Vs Sunni war in Middle/East which is going to spread into Pakistan.

 

[jandk]

I don't think Pakistan is the only country which has such problem. This happens and can happen everywhere ...

Similarly, Iran never managed to secure its frontline.

Incompetence comes in degrees though. Pakistan just happens to be placed near the shockingly incompetent end of the spectrum.