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Pakistan confirmed Thursday that its security forces had rescued five Iranian border guards kidnapped, indicating that efforts to find other captives were continuing.
A militant Sunni anti-Iranian organization known as Jaish al-Adl kidnapped a group of 12 security guards a month ago in the southern Iranian border town of Mirjaveh and took the captives to the Pakistani side of the border. porous between the two countries.
Tehran has asked Islamabad to help recover the men.
"Thanks to the concerted efforts of the Pakistani security forces and armed forces, five abducted Iranian guards have been found safely," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal told reporters in Islamabad.
He added that the Iranians were in good health and that the "concerted efforts" by the Pakistani army to recover the other guards were continuing.
The Pakistani statement comes hours after Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), told reporters that the five guards were free and hosted by the country's authorities. neighbour.
Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for the October 15 kidnapping and demanded the release of his prisoners in Iran in exchange for the abductees.
The incident occurred in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan, which has long experienced violence by separatist militants. It is bordering the province of Baluchistan, sparsely populated.
The Iranian province has been the scene of clashes involving Iranian forces and militants as well as drug traffickers.
Iranian separatists say their violence is a reprisal for what they call Iran's oppression against the Sunni-majority population of Sistan-Baluchistan.
Pakistan and Iran share a border of more than 900 km.
Tehran alleges that militants involved in terrorist attacks in Iran are using Pakistani territory to plot them. The allegation remains a source of tension in relations of friendship and usually close close relations with Islam Islamabad.
The Pakistani army has recently deployed thousands of additional troops at the border to enhance security. Islamabad has already been captured and handed over to Tehran leaders and members of anti-Iranian groups.
