Cross border raid by Iranian agents to free abducted envoy

[forcetrip]

TEHRAN: Iranian agents have freed a diplomat from the Islamic republic who was abducted in Pakistan in 2008, state television's website reported on Tuesday, in an apparent cross-border operation.

“Iranian intelligence agents, in an important operation, managed to release Heshmatollah Atarzadeh, the Iranian diplomat and bring him home,” the website said.

It said gunmen abducted Atarzadeh on November 13, 2008 in Peshawar. The envoy was on his way to Iran's consulate in the city when the kidnappers killed his local guard.

The website did not give details of Atarzadeh's release but indicated it could have been a cross-border operation.

DAWN.COM | World | Iran agents free envoy abducted in Pakistan

 

[RobbieS]

Good for the diplomat that he's still alive.

On a different note, how could Iranian agencies mount an operation inside Pakistani territory? Were Pak agencies involved as well? if not then, isn't that a violation of sovereignty?

 

[mujib.khan]

Must say, gutsy Iranian Special Forces.

 

[Aslan]

Good for the diplomat that he's still alive.

On a different note, how could Iranian agencies mount an operation inside Pakistani territory? Were Pak agencies involved as well? if not then, isn't that a violation of sovereignty?

Well Sardar Ji dont be shocked these are the Iranians making the claim, I love my brothers from across the border but when it comes to Macho Journalism fantasies and tall claims well they are not far behind any other. I would rather wait for some one else or some one from the Pak gov to confirm it till then its not even worth the salt .

 

[RobbieS]

Well Sardar Ji dont be shocked these are the Iranians making the claim, I love my brothers from across the border but when it comes to Macho Journalism fantasies and tall claims well they are not far behind any other. I would rather wait for some one else or some one from the Pak gov to confirm it till then its not even worth the salt .

You could be right. And a confirmation by GoP could provide more credibility to the news.

However, it could also be that GoP might choose not to confirm the news since it will mean that a) The Iranian forces indeed violated Pakistan's sovereign rights b) GoP's writ hardly runs in the border areas where the operation was conducted.

Meanwhile, Pak mainstream media continues to quote the Iranian media.
DAWN.COM | World | Iran agents free envoy abducted in Pakistan

 

[forcetrip]

It says iranian agents were involved which could mean anything .. I believe they provided support in Intel and their agents were present for the raids with permission ofcourse. They open their mouth about sensitive information all the time. Nothing out of the ordinary. We definately need more information to process if this was actually a "Cross border raid" but at the moment it feels like it is something that I have mentioned.

 

[karan.1970]

Could be something akin to the joint CIA ISI operations that have nabbed Taliban commanders all over Pakistan..Pakistan seems to be allowing a load of foreign agents to conduct joint operations within Pakistan,.

 

[pak-marine]

if true this is a joke .... will we ever seal off the border and make proper checks on who is coming in and going out of our country. Pakistan is not an open house where any one could walk in and do whatever they like.

 

[Justin Joseph]

If it is true goo for Iran. But raises serious question about border management and security.

On the other hand i don't think these type of news will get official confirmation.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Iranian agents 'free kidnapped diplomat from Pakistan'

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 30 March 2010 13.07 BST

Iranian intelligence agents launched a cross-border mission into Pakistan to free an Iranian diplomat who was kidnapped in 2008, Iranian state television reported today.

Reports said the agents rescued Heshmatollah Attarzadeh, of Iran's Peshawar consulate, in what was described as a "complicated intelligence operation".

The Iranian intelligence minister, Heidar Moslehi, said Iran had asked Pakistan to free the diplomat, but Tehran handled the situation itself after Pakistan failed to do the job.

"We have a high intelligence capability in the region," Moslehi said. "We have a good intelligence dominance over all other secret agencies active in the region."

He also accused US and Israeli intelligence agencies of backing the kidnappers.

A senior Pakistani security official, however, said Pakistani intelligence officers had helped in the rescue operation.

The official – who spoke on condition of anonymity – did not provide any further details.

Attarzadeh and his Pakistani bodyguard were driving in Peshawar on 13 November 2008 when two gunmen blocked their path with a car and opened fire. The attackers fled with the diplomat after killing his guard.

However, organised crime and militancy are on the increase, and it is possible that the Iranian diplomat was kidnapped for ransom.

A year after Attarzadeh was abducted, a Pakistani employee at the same Iranian consulate was shot dead near his home.

The diplomat's rescue is the latest success by Iran's intelligence services to be announced on Iranian television.

Last month, Iran captured Abdulmalik Rigi, the leader of an armed Sunni opposition group whose insurgency in south-east Iran had destabilised the border region with Pakistan.

Rigi was captured on a flight from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan after leaving Pakistan last month.

The Pakistani government claimed his capture would have not been possible without Islamabad's co-operation, but Iran insisted its agents had carried out the operation alone.

Iranian agents 'free kidnapped diplomat from Pakistan' | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

[forcetrip]

They probably paid the ransom and declared that a spec op. Their word means very little as to what they declare and what really happened. I will wait for factual details. Did they say they used their two seat stealth soap box?

 

[PlanetWarrior]

They probably paid the ransom and declared that a spec op. Their word means very little as to what they declare and what really happened. I will wait for factual details. Did they say they used their two seat stealth soap box?

Iran has a very capable intelligence agency. Don't underestimate their capabilities

 

[karan.1970]

Iranian agents 'free kidnapped diplomat from Pakistan'

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 30 March 2010 13.07 BST

Iranian intelligence agents launched a cross-border mission into Pakistan to free an Iranian diplomat who was kidnapped in 2008, Iranian state television reported today.

Reports said the agents rescued Heshmatollah Attarzadeh, of Iran's Peshawar consulate, in what was described as a "complicated intelligence operation".

The Iranian intelligence minister, Heidar Moslehi, said Iran had asked Pakistan to free the diplomat, but Tehran handled the situation itself after Pakistan failed to do the job.

"We have a high intelligence capability in the region," Moslehi said. "We have a good intelligence dominance over all other secret agencies active in the region."

He also accused US and Israeli intelligence agencies of backing the kidnappers.

A senior Pakistani security official, however, said Pakistani intelligence officers had helped in the rescue operation.

The official – who spoke on condition of anonymity – did not provide any further details.

Attarzadeh and his Pakistani bodyguard were driving in Peshawar on 13 November 2008 when two gunmen blocked their path with a car and opened fire. The attackers fled with the diplomat after killing his guard.

However, organised crime and militancy are on the increase, and it is possible that the Iranian diplomat was kidnapped for ransom.

A year after Attarzadeh was abducted, a Pakistani employee at the same Iranian consulate was shot dead near his home.

The diplomat's rescue is the latest success by Iran's intelligence services to be announced on Iranian television.

Last month, Iran captured Abdulmalik Rigi, the leader of an armed Sunni opposition group whose insurgency in south-east Iran had destabilised the border region with Pakistan.

Rigi was captured on a flight from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan after leaving Pakistan last month.

The Pakistani government claimed his capture would have not been possible without Islamabad's co-operation, but Iran insisted its agents had carried out the operation alone.

Iranian agents 'free kidnapped diplomat from Pakistan' | World news | guardian.co.uk

Does it say anywhere on which area was the raid conducted in.. Was it Balochistan?

 

[Imran Khan]

in afghanistan not pakistan guys whole urdu news say this.

 

[Spring Onion]

in afghanistan not pakistan guys whole urdu news say this.

there is another thread on this too.

Mods please merg.

And Imran i was thinking since morning why Iran is giving credit every time to its agents without giving details of the operation.


It can not be cross border operation with regards to Pakistan.