...

Saudi Arabia key culprit in guards’ abduction, Iranian MP says

Iran Materials 31 March 2014 12:12 (UTC +04:00)
An Iranian lawmaker says Saudi Arabia has been the key factor behind the recent abduction of the five Iranian border guards, who were then taken to Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia key culprit in guards’ abduction, Iranian MP says

An Iranian lawmaker says Saudi Arabia has been the key factor behind the recent abduction of the five Iranian border guards, who were then taken to Pakistan.

Mansour Haqiqatpour, a member of Iran's Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said that "Saudi Arabia is masterminding the scenario of kidnapping of the Iranian border guards, the country's Press TV reported on March 29.

He lashed out at Saudi Arabia for "violating the principles of good neighborly relations" and urged Riyadh to observe the rules of such relations.

The Iranian lawmaker also criticized the Pakistani government for its failure to maintain the security of its borders and warned that as long as Islamabad fails to adopt a strict approach to this issue, the country will become a safe haven for many terrorist and criminal groups.

Jaish-ul-Adl group kidnapped five Iranian border guards in Jakigour region in the south-eastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan on Feb. 6 and took them to the Pakistani territory. The group announced on March 23 that they had killed one of the hostages.

Iran later summoned Pakistan's Ambassador to Tehran Noor Mohammad Jadmani in connection with the announced killing.

On October 25, 2013, the group killed 14 Iranian border guards and wounded six others in a border region near the city of Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Iran and Pakistan signed a security agreement in February 2013, under which both countries are required to cooperate in preventing and combating organized crime, fighting terrorism and countering the activities that pose a threat to the national security of either country.

Iran has repeatedly called on Pakistan to abide by the terms of the agreement.

Tags:
Latest

Latest