Reaction to the reported statement made by Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli

Pakistan has noted with serious concern the statement by the Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli that Iran would send forces into Pakistan to free five border guards who were kidnapped by the militants on 6 February 2014 from the border region about 5 km inside Iranian territory. The Government of Pakistan regrets the suggestions of negligence on its part over the incident, especially when Pakistan’s active support against terrorists groups in the past, is well-known and acknowledged by Iran.

Pakistan has already informed the Iranian authorities that its Frontier Corps teams have intensively combed the entire region but could not verify the entry or presence of these Iranian border guards on its territory. It is therefore possible that the miscreants alongwith the abducted border guards are still hiding within the Iranian territory.

The security organizations of both the countries are in regular contact and a senior level Pak-Iran border meeting is scheduled in Quetta for 19 February, at which relevant information would be exchanged.

It shall, however, be emphasized that the Iranian forces have no authority to cross our borders in violation of the international law. We must respect each other’s borders.

Islamabad
18 February 2014

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