FM Qureshi assures Zarif of cooperation in Iranian guards' abduction issue

Zarif underscored Iran's desire to overcome all hurdles jointly with Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD (APP) – Foreign Minister of Iran Javad Zarif Wednesday called his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi to discuss the situation arising following the abduction of Iranian guards near Pakistan-Iran border point of Mirjaveh on October 16.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed his serious concern on the incident. He also briefed Zarif about the efforts launched by the Pakistan law enforcement agencies to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing Iranian guards, in coordination with the Iranian military and intelligence counterparts.

During the telephonic conversation it was noted that the two Directors General (Military Operations) were in close contact through hotline to coordinate the search and rescue efforts including enhanced air surveillance and troops’ deployment in the border area where the incident took place.

“Such incidents are the handy work of our common enemies unhappy with the existing close, friendly relations between Pakistan and Iran,” said Foreign Minister Qureshi.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment of not allowing anyone to succeed in such malicious efforts, Qureshi noted that Pakistan and Iran have traditionally shared a border of peace and friendship which would be maintained in the same spirit.

Thanking Qureshi, Zarif underscored Iran’s desire to overcome all hurdles jointly with Pakistan in maintaining complete peace along the Pak-Iran border.