The Pakistani government should be held accountable for the presence and operation of these vicious groups on its soil, Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qassemi, said in a post on the Telegram messenger channel on Thursday.
Carrying out subversive and terrorist operations by armed banditsand groupletsoperating as proxies for those known for promoting violence, extremism and Takfirism on the Iranian-Pakistani border is condemned and unacceptable, he said.
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Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qassemi[/caption]On Wednesday, nine Iranian border guards were killed and two others injuredin clashes near the Iranian town of Mirjaveh in the province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan.The Jaish ul-Adl terror group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.
The countries that are after joining anti-terrorist coalitions must answer how they are incapable of countering armed bandits and terroristgroups on their own soil, Qassemi asked.
He was apparently referring to Pakistan's participation in a Saudi-led coalition, which has been poundingYemen for more than two years now under the pretext of fighting terrorists, as well as Islamabad's cooperation with the US.
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Pres. Rouhani urges rapid punishment of perpetrators
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday expressed his condolences over the death of the Iranian border guards, urging rapid steps to identify and punish the perpetrators.
I ask the government of friendly and neighboring Pakistan, which this blind and cowardly act has taken place on their side of border, to take a responsible step and identify, introduce and punish members of the terrorist and Takfiri groups, who are behind this crime, as soon as possible.
President Rouhani also ordered Iran's Supreme National Security Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow up on this issue with diligence so as to prevent repetition of such unmanly acts of terrorism.
'Terrorists not to go unpunished'
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif saidhis ministry "will spare no effort in following up the case through diplomatic channels and punishing terrorist thugs.
In a message on Thursday, Zarif alsoexpressed sympathy with the families of the victims and thosewounded in the attack.
In a related development, IransFirst Vice President Es'haqJahangiri issued a statement on Thursday, saying"the perpetrators of this inhumane and abhorrent crime will be brought to justice for their despicable deeds.
Terrorists and mercenaries should know that they cannot make a dent inthe Islamic Republics firm resolve to fight terrorism and banditry through such inhumane and perfidiousacts, he said.
Meanwhile, Iran's Parliament Speaker AliLarijani said, "The black-hearted enemies have repeatedly tried to damage the security and authority ofthe Islamic Republic of Iran."
"However, the brave children of this nation have vigilantly stood up against evil groups to guard and protect the countrys borders, having regarded martyrdom as a great honor for themselves, he added.
Interior Minister AbdolrezaRahmani Fazli also paid tribute to the memory of "the heroic youths, who fell down in their blood at the hands of terrorist Takfiri-Zionist groupswhile they were safeguarding security, welfare and peace for the Iranians."
This tragic loss once again underlined the need for all people to be vigilant against the plots and seditious schemes of the enemies to divide the honorable Iranian nation, he said.
