Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17
By Umid Niayesh, Saeed Isayev - Trend:
Iranian forces will enter Pakistan, if the country does not take actions "against terrorist groups", Iran's interior minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said, the country's Mehr news agency reported on Feb. 17.
He went on to say that Iran has requested from Pakistan to provide security on its borders.
"If Pakistan is not able to provide its security, Iran will enter the country to protect its own security," Rahmani Fazli said, adding that Iran has the right to intervene to protect its security and will not wait for Pakistan's opinion on the issue.
Commenting on the latest developments regarding the recent abduction of five Iranian border guards, the minister said that Iranian officials will meet with Pakistani border security forces today.
Five Iranian border guards were abducted in Jakigour region in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province on February 6 and transferred to the Pakistani territory.
The so-called Jaish-ul-Adl group claimed responsibility for the abductions.
Footage of the kidnapped border guards were published on Feb. 15 for the first time.
In the video, the soldiers said that they are being held by the Jeish- ul-Adl and asked the Iranian government to meet the demands of the kidnappers.
On Feb. 16, Iranian media outlets quoted Rahmani Fazli as saying Iran held Pakistan accountable on the issue.
Rahmani Fazli said the Iranian Foreign Ministry has also conveyed Tehran's strong objection to Pakistani Ambassador to Iran Noor Mohammad Jadmani, and an Iranian delegation is due to visit Pakistan soon to discuss the issue with Pakistani officials.