Iran dismantles terrorist cell, kills member near border with Pakistan
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One terrorist wad killed and two others were injured in clashes between Iranian border guards and the terrorist cell members.
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This photo provided Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, by the Iranian Army shows an infantry drill in the central Isfahan province, Iran.(AP)
Border Guard Commander in the Iranian Law Enforcement Force, Brigadier-General Ahmed Ali Goudarzi, announced today that the Iranian police dismantled a terrorist cell in the Chakigur border area in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeastern Iran, on the border with Pakistan.
Following an armed clash between the Iranian border guards and the terrorist cell, Goudarzi stated that one terrorist was killed and two others were injured, adding that several others fled the scene of the clash. He stated that “the border guards found 6 bombs, three of which were manual and three of 40mm caliber, in addition to an explosive belt."
Goudarzi also pointed out that in the past few days, the terrorist cell was planning an attack on Iran as it sneaked in large quantities of weapons and ammunition, explosive and tubular fuses, explosive hand grenades, and RPG shells, to use them against Iranian forces.
Recently tensions have intensified on the Irani-Pakistani border after Iran targeted two bases of Jaish ul-Adl, a terrorist group in Pakistan, with ballistic missiles. The latter came as a response to “terrorist crimes recently committed by Iran’s enemies,” whereas Pakistan carried out attacks on a village near the Saravan area in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, southeastern Iran.
The exchange of attacks created tension between the neighboring countries. Nevertheless, Iranian and Pakistani officials emphasized that the relations between both countries are still very strong. The Pakistani embassy in Tehran stressed that “Pakistan always stands by Iran, in all difficult circumstances. Cooperation and mutual trust between the two brotherly countries, hold great value in ensuring peace and security in the region amid a complicated regional environment."
An officer holding second deputy rank was martyred this month as a result of a terrorist attack targeting a police station in the city of Rask in Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeastern Iran.
Iranian and Pakistani FM met earlier today
At a joint press conference in Islamabad with his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, stated today that terrorists will never come between Iran and Pakistan improving their relationship, adding that the terrorists based along the Iran-Pakistan border areas are supported by hostile third parties.
He stated that many Iranian and Pakistani personnel have lost their lives in recent years in the fight against terrorism, emphasizing that this only pushes both countries to unite their strengths in fighting terrorism.
Amir-Abdollahian also said that Tehran and Islamabad both agree that efforts should be made to improve the economy, development, and welfare of the people living along the common border, noting that he is working with his counterpart on all arrangements and necessary preparations for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Pakistan following the latter's invitation.
“Our relations with Iran are based on cultural characteristics,” the Pakistani Foreign Minister affirmed, referring to cultural, historical, geographical, and religious relations between both nations.
Jilani also noted that “both sides emphasized that the bilateral relations are valuable for the two neighboring nations and are an important source of peace and stability in the region.”
“Iran and Pakistan are determined to develop political and security relations. Terrorist threat is a common challenge as Iran and Pakistan are determined to adopt a collective approach to deal with terrorists, and this can be achieved,” he added, stressing that “the two countries’ territorial integrity is one of the unavoidable principles.”
Jilani also stated, "There was good communication at the level of foreign ministers and the army and military forces, which was able to solve the recent problem quickly,” emphasizing, “We believe that the security of Iran and Pakistan is the security of the region.”
