Iran Warns of Foreign-Backed Terrorists Attempts to Darken Iran-Pakistan Ties

"The terrorists are agents of the foreign spying agencies and enemies of the Iranian nation and their goal is distorting relations between Pakistan and Iran," General Pakpour said after his one-day visit to Pakistan to pursue the fate of the 12 Iranian border guards abducted by terrorists in Southeastern Iran earlier this month.

He added that it seems there are third parties which are after darkening the two countries' ties, stressing the need for Tehran and Islamabad to keep more vigilant.

General Pakpour said that the Pakistani officials have promised him to use all their capacities to free the abducted border guards.

"We are making all our efforts so that the Pakistani brothers prevent the terrorists' infiltration, make their borders insecure for the terrorists and establish security at their borders," he added.

The IRGC Ground Force in a statement on October 16 blasted foreign enemies for the abduction of the Iranian Basijis (volunteer forces) and border guards by a terrorist group in Mirjaveh border in Southeastern Sistan-Balouchestan province on October 15.

"Last night (on night of October 15) a number of Basij forces and guards of the border regiment who were stationed in the zero border point in Mirjaveh were kidnapped by counterrevolutionary groups," the public relations of the IRGC Ground Force's Qods Headquarters said in its statement.

The IRGC pointed to the fortified positions of Iranian border regiment, and said, "Members of a terrorist group that is supported by foreign intelligence services after deceiving some traitors managed to abduct Iran's border guards along the common border with Pakistan."

It noted that the operations against the terrorists and the outlaws as well as the needed measures to set free the abducted Basijis and border guards tops agenda of the security forces stationed along the border regions, and said, "We expect the Pakistani government to seriously deal with the outlaws and terrorists who are stationed along the borders and are supported by some reactionary countries of the region while expediting releasing the abducted Basijis and handing them over to border guards."

According to reports, the incident happened in Lulakdan village, near the border of Pakistan, at around 4 a.m. local time.

The Iranian forces were participating in a plan to boost the security of Mirjaveh border unit.

Jeish al-Adl terrorist group, whose base is in Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for abduction of the Iranian border guards.

The Iranian interior ministry announced on Monday that the country's abducted border guards were sound and healthy.

"The abducted border guards are healthy and are now in the hands of the terrorist group," the director-general of the interior ministry for border affairs Heidari said.

He added that efforts were underway to free the Iranian border guards, saying that Pakistan has also shown serious determination to cooperate with Tehran to this end.

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