Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced that the commander of its ground forces has traveled to Pakistan to pursue the issue of 12 Iranian captives.
Iran’s ISNA quotes a spokesperson of IRGC that General Mohammad Pakpour left with a delegation for Pakistan on Monday.
On October 16, twelve Iranian border guards were kidnapped on the Pakistani border and are presumed to be held by Sunni militants inside Pakistan.
A group called Jaish al-Adl (army of justice) has claimed responsibility. Iran’s southeastern region is populated by Sunni Baluch minority, and several militant groups have waged attacks against Iranian military and political personnel, claiming to fight against injustice and discrimination.
On October 17, general Pakpour had said that Iran is ready to conduct joint operations with Pakistan to free the hostages and punish the kidnappers.
In recent days, Iran armed forces joint chief of staff and the interior minister held phone calls with their Pakistani counterparts asking for urgent steps to free the border guards.
Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif also said on Monday that although borders with India and Afghanistan are more important for Pakistan, Islamabad has promised to beef-up security on its border with Iran.