Iran: Five of Abducted IRGC Forces Freed In Pakistan

Local Editor

Chief Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC] Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said five of the 12 Iranian forces, who were kidnapped last month by Pakistan-based terrorists, were freed.

Jafari announced Thursday that the freed forces are now in Pakistan and will soon return home, and that efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining captives.

The 12 forces were kidnapped in mid-October by elements of the so-called Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group near the town of Mirjaveh in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, and then spirited away into neighboring Pakistan.

Jafari further said, “The kidnappers are seeking to exchange the abducted soldiers with several of their accomplices that are behind bars in the Islamic Republic for committing crimes.”

“This request is not acceptable,” added the senior military official.

Over the past weeks, Iranian military and political officials have been in constant consultations with the Pakistani side over the fate of the hostages. Tehran also offered joint operations with Islamabad to secure the release of the abductees.

The terrorist group was formed in 2012 by members of the Pakistan-based Jundallah, another terror outfit which was dismantled by Iranian intelligence forces in 2010 after its ringleader, Abdolmalek Rigi, was executed.

Iranian border guards have repeatedly come under attacks by terror outfits active on the Pakistani soil.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team