Pakistan denounces execution of Iranian border guard

Islamabad strongly condemned the recent execution of one of the five abducted Iranian border guards by the Jeish al-Adl terrorists, and stressed the need for widening and deepening of security cooperation between the two Muslim nations to root out terrorists' presence on Pakistan's soil. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced that Islamabad is “deeply saddened” over the killing of one of the five Iranian border guards.” "We condemn this terrorist act, and share the grief and agony of the families of the martyr and the other border guards,” added the Pakistani ministry. The statement further highlighted “brotherly relations” between Tehran and Islamabad, stressing that Iran and Pakistan are making efforts to “forge a closer and cooperative relationship for the common benefit” of the two nations. On Monday night, the Iranian Interior Ministry confirmed the reports that Jeish al-Adl terrorist group has killed one of the five Iranian border guards. "The local officials (in Pakistan) have confirmed the report on the martyrdom of one of the abducted Iranian border guards by Jeish al-Adl terrorist group," Interior Ministry Spokesman Hossein Ali Amiri told FNA on Monday night. He made the remarks after Jeish al-Adl claimed on its tweeter page that it has killed Jamshid Danayeefar, one of the kidnapped border guards. The execution of the border guard came as an Iranian official said on Sunday that efforts and consultations with the Pakistani officials still continue to secure the release of the border guards. "Talks with national and local Pakistani officials have been held at different levels and they have made some promises," Governor-General of Iran's Southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan province Ali Awsat Hashemi told FNA. He expressed the hope that the young border guards would be released to return to their families soon. The five Iranian border guards were abducted in Jakigour region of Iran’s Sistan and Balouchestan Province on February 6 and taken to Pakistan. Jeish al-Adl later claimed responsibility for their abduction. The terrorist group released a photo of the kidnapped border guards on its Tweeter page and claimed the responsibility for their abduction on February 8. Earlier reports had already revealed that the abducted soldiers had been transferred to Pakistan which has a long border with Iran in the Southeastern parts of the country.