QUETTA, Feb 28: Pakistani security forces on Wednesday launched an operation in Mand and Tump areas of Turbat district, close to the Pakistan-Iran border, and after a heavy exchange of fire arrested five suspected Iranian drug smugglers.
The action was taken at the request of Iranian border officials who had informed their Pakistan counterparts that the drug smugglers had killed two Iranian border security guards and injured another near the border between the two countries on Tuesday. They said the smugglers had also kidnapped four guards and fled into the Pakistani territory.
Official sources told Dawn that personnel of the Frontier Corps and other law-enforcement agencies had launched a search operation in Mand and Tump.
"Five suspected Iranian drug smugglers were arrested from Mand," the sources said, adding that a smaller operation was launched in Tump on the basis of information provided by the detained suspects. The sources said the heavily-armed smugglers had taken positions and were locked in an exchange of fire with security personnel.
"The exchange of fire in Tump continued till late at night," said the sources.
There were no reports about the recovery of kidnapped Iranian border guards or any casualties.
COMPLAINTS REJECTED: Pakistan on Wednesday rejected Iranian complaints about lack of cooperation after Tuesday’s ambush by the drug smugglers.
Officials said they were also unaware of the incident in Sistan-Baluchestan province after which Iranian police said the attackers had fled into the Pakistani side of the border.
According to Iran's official Irna news agency, police chief Esmael Ahmadi-Mogadam complained about “lack of cooperation from Pakistan in the fight against these rebels” adding that “this position is unacceptable”.
FC spokesman Captain Shahid said he had “no information about any such incident.” But he rejected the Iranian official's complaints. “We intercept any illegal movement and the two sides have signed several agreements for strict border control and counter-narcotics cooperation,” said the official.
