Pak, Iran in close contact to find missing Iranian guards: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has assured his Iranian counterpart of the country’s active efforts to recover the missing Iranian guards. At least 12 Iranian guards were reported to have been abducted near the Pak-Iran border on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Foreign Office, via a press release on Wednesday, informed that Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called Qureshi today to discuss the situation arising following the abduction of the Iranian guards near the Pakistan-Iran border point of Mirjaveh.

Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed his serious concern on the incident. He also briefed his counterpart Zarif about the active efforts launched by the Pakistan law enforcement agencies to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing Iranian guards, in coordination with the Iranian military and intelligence counterparts.

Pakistan, Iran militaries working to recover abducted Iranian guards: FO

No effort will be spared to assist our Iranian brothers in finding the Iranian guards: Foreign Office

It was noted that the two Directors General (Military Operations) were in close contact through hotline to coordinate the search and rescue efforts including enhanced air surveillance and troops deployment in the border area where the incident took place, the press release stated.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said that such incidents are the handy work of our common enemies unhappy with the existing close, friendly relations between Pakistan and Iran, the release said.

Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment of not allowing anyone to succeed in such malicious efforts, FM Qureshi noted that Pakistan and Iran have traditionally shared a 'border of peace and friendship' which would be maintained in the same spirit, it added.

Thanking the Foreign Minister, Zarif underscored Iran's desire to overcome all hurdles jointly with Pakistan in maintaining complete peace along the Pak-Iran border, the Foreign Office stated.