Pakistan, Iran discuss abduction of Iranian guards

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Pakistani and Iranian officials held a meeting on Wednesday underlining the need to make coordinated efforts to curb terrorism.
Officials from both sides met to remove misunderstandings which had developed in the aftermath of abduction of five Iranian border guards on February 6.
A Sunni militant group, Jaish-al-Adal (party of justice) had claimed the responsibility for kidnapping the Iranian guards.
Balochistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob led the Pakistani delegation whereas Sistan-Balochestan Deputy Governor Ali Asghar Shikari represented Iran in the meeting.
The Balochistan home secretary, police chief, FC chief and other officials also participated.
The Pakistani delegation raised the issue of repeated violation by Iranian border guards near bordering areas – Mashkail and Taftan.
“Iran has repeatedly fired rockets in Mashkail in recent days,” an insider of the meeting who requested not to be named said while quoting the Pakistani side.
However, the Iranian delegation complained that there was an infiltration of militants from Pakistan into Iran.
The Iranians claimed that the militant group which had claimed responsibility for kidnapping five border guards was operating in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
The charge was vehemently denied by Pakistani officials.
“We have already ordered law enforcers to carry out a search operation in the bordering area”, the Pakistani delegation assured the Iranians.
Iranian Interior Minister Abdul Raza Rehmani had threatened to carry out operation on Pakistani soil if Iranian guards were not recovered.
Yaqoob told reporters that the meeting would continue on Thursday (today) as well and both sides were serious in resolving issues related to the Pak-Iran border.
He added Pakistan and Iran had cordial relations and both were determined to boost relations in the future.
Pakistan shares 900 km border in the West with Iran.
Both countries have formed a joint border commission few years back to promote mutual understanding and discuss issues relating to the border.
Strict security measures were put in place during the border commissions meeting at a local hotel.
In addition to policemen, personnel of Frontier Corps were also deployed around the hotel.