TEHRAN, Feb 18: Iran on Sunday said it had summoned the Pakistani ambassador following two bomb blasts in its southeastern border city of Zahedan, one of which killed 11 Revolutionary Guards.

After the meeting with ambassador Shafkat Saeed, the two countries resolved to form a committee to improve security over their shared borders, foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

“The Pakistani ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry to give explanation. Discussions were undertaken and a committee was formed between the two countries to reinforce border security.” A car bomb attack on Wednesday in Zahedan, which is 40km from the border, killed 11 Revolutionary Guards, followed by late night clashes and a percussion bomb on Friday which lightly wounded one person.

“The investigation and the confessions show that foreigners are implicated in these actions,” Hosseini added, without elaborating. Local officials said the unrest bore hallmarks of involvement by the United States and Britain, reiterating previous allegations of Western trouble-making in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.

According to unconfirmed website reports, Wednesday’s attack was claimed by a militant group called Jundallah, which has been blamed for a string of armed incidents in the volatile province.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Enrolment drive
Updated 10 May, 2024

Enrolment drive

The authorities should implement targeted interventions to bring out-of-school children, especially girls, into the educational system.
Gwadar outrage
10 May, 2024

Gwadar outrage

JUST two days after the president, while on a visit to Balochistan, discussed the need for a political dialogue to...
Save the witness
10 May, 2024

Save the witness

THE old affliction of failed enforcement has rendered another law lifeless. Enacted over a decade ago, the Sindh...
May 9 fallout
Updated 09 May, 2024

May 9 fallout

It is important that this chapter be closed satisfactorily so that the nation can move forward.
A fresh approach?
09 May, 2024

A fresh approach?

SUCCESSIVE governments have tried to address the problems of Balochistan — particularly the province’s ...
Visa fraud
09 May, 2024

Visa fraud

THE FIA has a new task at hand: cracking down on fraudulent work visas. This was prompted by the discovery of a...