Iran lodges strong protest, summons Pakistani envoy
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ISLAMABAD: Iranian foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest and summoned Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires (CDA) Muhammad Zeeshan in Tehran on Wednesday, over the killing of eight Iranian border security guards by terrorists that allegedly crossed over from Pakistan.
"As the ambassador is away, our Charge d'Affaires Muhammad Zeeshan was called upon by the Iranian foreign office regarding concern over the tragic incident," a senior Pakistan diplomat told DawnNews via telephone.
Sources said Iranian senior officials, while interacting with the Pakistani CDA, demanded strict action against the culprits and strong security along the Pak-Iran border.
The Pakistani diplomat assured full cooperation in investigating the incident and said a probe into the incident has been launched by Pakistani agencies.
Border guard killings are under investigation, Pakistan assures Iran
Pakistan assured Iran on Wednesday that security agencies are actively investigating the incident.
Pakistan has also asked Iranian authorities to share any evidence they might have regarding this incident.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that in the case the culprits have crossed over to Pakistan after committing the crime on Iran’s soil, they will be apprehended and brought to justice.
She added that Pakistan strongly condemns this act of terrorism and conveys sincere condolences to the bereaved families and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The statement came ahead of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif's two-day visit to Pakistan to discuss the crisis in Yemen and the Arab led coalition's airstrikes against Houthi rebels. Zarif will also discuss the state of bilateral ties, particularly the old sore spot in the relationship — the cross-border terrorism allegedly by Pakistan-based groups in the Iranian province of Sistan-Balochistan.
Know more: Rebels kill eight Iranian soldiers on Pakistani border
Eight Iranian border guards were killed in a clash with Sunni rebels who had infiltrated from Pakistan, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
“Armed terrorists entered Iran from Pakistan and clashed with border guards, killing eight soldiers before fleeing back to Pakistan,” Ali Asghar Mirshekari, deputy governor of Sistan-Balochistan province, told the news agency.
Balochistan has a large Sunni community and has seen repeated attacks by militants on the security forces of mainly Shia Iran.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (50) Closed
Apr 08, 2015 01:24pm
Did Pakistan ever able to find culprits?? Foreign minister is assuring as Pakistan always did so in past though the truth is different. In fact Pakistan has rejected the incidences of terrorism altogether. The incidence of kidnapping of Iranian guards and killing of one of then on Pakistani soil is well known past event where Pakistan's officials totally rejected the possibility of that event had happened in Pakistani soil though both kidnappers and kidnapped persons confirmed that they were in Pakistan.
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Apr 08, 2015 01:27pm
I'm sure Iran knows what you mean by "investigation "!
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Apr 08, 2015 01:36pm
FO spokesperson should not sound apologetic about this incident. Would they do the same if it happened on Indian border. Just deny anything has happened and Iran is overreacting.
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Apr 08, 2015 01:37pm
Pakistan and Iran should form joint border patrol teams to safeguard our only friendly and secure border.
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Apr 08, 2015 01:53pm
Whoever is behind this badly wants Pakistan's relations to deteriorate with Iran which would be great under the current circumstances . There aren't too many countries that can't stand Pakistan and would love it to disintegrate. Israel and India are the top contenders for which country hates Pakistan more , so my money is on these two.
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Apr 08, 2015 01:55pm
"Mainly Shia Iran" . It is the Media that keeps the Sectarian angle alive. Even the Yemen-Saudi conflict is being painted as sectarian whereas it is a power struggle between two countries as well a groups within the same country.
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Apr 08, 2015 01:56pm
Both sides should put efforts to ensure peace on border. Couple of such incidents also happened where Pakistani soldiers were killed.
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Apr 08, 2015 01:58pm
It must be the Jundallah who had earlier also killed Iranians.
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Apr 08, 2015 02:05pm
3rd Parties want to deteriorate our relation with Iran.
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Apr 08, 2015 02:09pm
These non estate actors are are a real menace & threat to Pakistan as well as others. Pakistan should deal to finish with these border miscreants.
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Apr 08, 2015 02:19pm
Yes yes, allow those things to happen repetitively to Iranian border guards. Also send the airforce to indiscriminately bomb Hauthi areas. It is exactly what the doc ordered for one more contentious border.
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Apr 08, 2015 02:27pm
act of those who want us to stand against Iran and Iran against us
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Apr 08, 2015 02:50pm
Pakistan can not fight with Iran and Afghanistan. In future masses will suffer / pay for the results. Some rent a car type leaders of world are destabilizing the world. Rich groups paying for their elections and use them like RAC.
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Apr 08, 2015 03:00pm
They should be apprehended and brought to Justice , irrespective of faith. We cannot allow that for people to go in from here to any neighboring country and harm its citizens.. It has to Stop.. We have to take control of our affairs right NOW!!!!....
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Apr 08, 2015 03:03pm
Dont mess up with IRAN , if you have backing of USA , IRAN too have backing of Russia .
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Apr 08, 2015 03:36pm
This investigation will be never ending
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Apr 08, 2015 03:44pm
Dangerous move by the enemies of Pakistan
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Apr 08, 2015 03:44pm
Iran is assured of Pakistan's assurance.
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Apr 08, 2015 03:55pm
First Pakistan has to see whether they are "good terrorists" or "bad terrorists" .
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Apr 08, 2015 04:12pm
If nothing, sooner or later, the Government and people of Pakistan will start conspiracy theories and start blaming hidden agenda of foreign powers.
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Apr 08, 2015 04:25pm
wats the evidence that this act was done from pak side...iran say they came, kill and left...any evidence of people from pak involvement??
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Apr 08, 2015 04:25pm
We all know why Iranian guards killed this time and by the instructions of whom.. Our government is playing a very dangerous game here which is against our national interest also..
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Apr 08, 2015 04:28pm
same problems with india too. iran india china afghanista all are suffering such incidents.
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Apr 08, 2015 04:43pm
Iran is pressurizing Pakistan because of its tilt towards Saudi Arabia. Pakistan should offer Iran a joint intelligence based operation against those culprits who are doing all this mischief to cause anger among our long-time peaceful neighbor.
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Apr 08, 2015 04:45pm
Pakistan has the same issues with all its neighbours. Time for some deep introspection I think.
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Apr 08, 2015 04:47pm
Timing of attacks signals to foreign hand.
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Apr 08, 2015 04:59pm
How come when it is Iran, Pakistan is so ready to cooperate and apprehend the terrorists, but when it is India they are in a denial mode ???
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Apr 08, 2015 05:29pm
Iran should ensure its borders are sealed and should have the ability take down any intruders, Pakistan cannot be held responsible for this condemnable act , same way India should also not hold Pakistan responsible for any acts of violence in Kashmir when its borders with Pakistan are porous and lacks infrastructure/equipment to check and halt infiltration.
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Apr 08, 2015 05:36pm
Definitely a foreign hand. Let me correct it, an invisible foreign hand, which will never be visible.
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Apr 08, 2015 05:44pm
@Haider Rehman Lol... Do you ever have any other explanation?
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Apr 08, 2015 05:46pm
@Haider Rehman Elaborate please?
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Apr 08, 2015 05:48pm
@guddu Can Iran afford messing up with Pakistan? :)
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Apr 08, 2015 06:01pm
@SAAB93 Easy way to shed your responsibility if there is foreign hand crush that hand at the earliest and stop blaming without any proof.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:03pm
@SAAB93
No point of spreading hue and cry over and maligning single side. Incidents where Iranian killed local and border security forces of Pakistan did occur, and they should also refrain from doing this.
To my friends to said, Russia backs Iran...Pakistan do not need USA, IRAN is a peace of cake for Pakistan. They Say do not tell your father how to....... Same goes with Iran
But there is indeed an effort to separate two friends and people and governments should be wiser and I believe they are.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:37pm
@Haider Rehman, blame game...!
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Apr 08, 2015 06:46pm
Both countries should develop and increase the intensity of joint patrolling along the boarder. Some hidden had is bent on deteriorating relations between two brotherly Muslim states and both countries should perceive it.
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Apr 08, 2015 06:54pm
A head of Iranian foreign minister visit to Pakistan this incident happen something is not right....and secondly how they ware able to flee back to Pakistan and even a single person was not killed or injured... something is fishy here
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Apr 08, 2015 07:00pm
@Haider Rehman are you talking about Saudi Arabia ??
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Apr 08, 2015 07:19pm
@Haider Rehman
It is always a "third Party" creating issues in Pakistan per your comments. Just a simple question, Is your conclusion based on any hard evidence? Do you really think that "third Party -India" is so good that nobody has ever found any hard evidence?
Please accept the fact that there are bad people in all societies (India included) and Pakistan's issues are mostly caused by Pakistanis ( a very small group).
Thanks
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Apr 08, 2015 08:23pm
This is clearly the action of Saudi proxy agents sitting in Pakistan, to start up a tussle between Pakistan and Iran and to encourage it to go to a war with Yemen. People may be naïve, not stupid.
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Apr 08, 2015 08:26pm
Iran can rest assured Pakistan Government has taken note of this incident and is working speedily to bring the culprits to Justice. They only have to ask India about the sincerity of Pakistanis to curb terrorism.
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Apr 08, 2015 08:38pm
there is always a foreign hand inside pakistan.
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Apr 08, 2015 08:49pm
I fail to understand where was the Pakistan's border security? If Iran's soldiers were present on their side then that mean Pakistan's soldier should also be present on their side. That is how the border security works.
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Apr 08, 2015 09:04pm
@Haider Rehman you got it on the nose. Saudi/Israel/USA nexus would love to see a Pakistan/Iran chasm.
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Apr 08, 2015 09:11pm
Such incidents are well planned and executed for creating differences between friendly countries
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Apr 08, 2015 09:58pm
along with the protest on the attack, painting the events with sectarian colored statements by the officials is irrational and should be condemned to the fullest!
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Apr 08, 2015 10:01pm
I thought only against India ,Pak is indulging in such tactics.But I was wrong.I simply underestimated Pak's ability to destabilize it neighbors.
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Apr 08, 2015 10:27pm
How can Pakistani army guard Saudi territory if it cannot control it's own?
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Apr 08, 2015 10:53pm
What else can they say?
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Apr 09, 2015 01:21am
@M.Saeed but you are good not blaming India..your ex president musraf will say India a main culprit
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