ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cautioned Iran on Tuesday against sending troops across the (Pak-Iran) border for recovering its kidnapped border guards.

“The Iranian forces have no authority to cross our borders in violation of the international law,” a measured but stern Foreign Office statement said, adding that borders must be respected.

The statement was issued in response to a warning by Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli that his country might send troops into Pakistani territory for recovering the five border guards allegedly kidnapped by Jaishul Adl nearly a fortnight ago from the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

While expressing concern over the statement, Pakistan also reminded Iran of its counter-terror credentials.

“The government of Pakistan regrets the suggestions of negligence on its part over the incident, especially when Pakistan’s active support against terrorist groups in the past is well-known and acknowledged by Iran,” the statement said.

The war of words between the two neighbouring countries started ahead of a scheduled meeting of their senior officials in Quetta on Wednesday (today) for exchanging information about the incident.

The exchange further took place against the backdrop of Pakistan’s foreign policy pivoting closer to Saudi Arabia – a move that may revive regional tensions.

The FO said an extensive search for the abducted guards by Frontier Corps teams could not provide any clue to their being held on Pakistani territory. “It is, therefore, possible that the miscreants, along with the abducted border guards, are still hiding within the Iranian territory,” it said, adding that this information had been shared with the Iranians.

After a similar incident in October last year, Iran had written a letter to the UN Security Council president stating that it had evidence that the militant group behind the abductions – Jaishul Adl – operated from Pakistani territory. Pakistan and Iran have a security agreement which requires them to cooperate against organised crime, terrorism and activities posing threat to each other’s national security.