ISLAMABAD, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has spoke to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on the situation arising following abduction of Iranian guards near the Pakistan-Iran border point on Tuesday, a foreign ministry statement said.
Fourteen Iranian border guards were reportedly kidnapped by an armed group in Mirjaveh border point in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province.
"Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed his serious concern on the incident. He also briefed Zarif about the active 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," the statement said on Wednesday.
It was noted that the two directors general of 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.
Qureshi said such incidents are the handy work of "our common enemies unhappy with the existing close, friendly relations between Pakistan and Iran."
Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment of not allowing anyone 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.
The statement said that Zarif underscored Iran's desire to overcome all hurdles jointly with Pakistan in maintaining complete peace along the Pak-Iran border.
Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province, bordering Pakistan, is the locus for frequent armed clashes between the Iranian security forces and armed rebels or smugglers.
