Summary Foreign Office spokesperson says five abducted Iranian border guards have been safely recovered,
ISLAMABAD (AFP) – Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Muhammad Faisal on Thursday said that five abducted Iranian border guards have been safely recovered with concerted efforts of Pakistani law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and armed forces.
The spokesperson said Pakistan security forces safely recovered five Iranian guards, abducted near the countries shared border a month ago. Banned outfit Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice in Arabic) had claimed responsibility for the abduction of 12 Iranian security personnel.
"With concerted efforts of Pakistani law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and armed forces, five abducted Iranian guards have been safely recovered," foreign ministry spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said in a statement in Islamabad.
The Iranians, including intelligence officers, were abducted near Lulakdan, a village 150 kilometres (90 miles) southeast of Zahedan, capital of Sistan-Baluchistan.
Faisal said: "They are in good health, being handed over to Iranian authorities."
He added efforts were being made "to recover the other guards".
Pakistan briefed Tehran about "active efforts" to locate the abducted guards during two visits by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to Islamabad in one month.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi blamed the kidnapping on "our common enemies unhappy with the existing close, friendly relations between Pakistan and Iran".
