QUETTA: Nine suspected drug smugglers — six Pakistanis and three Iranians — were killed in a gunbattle with Iranian forces in Iran territory close to the border with Pakistan, officials said on Monday.

Murad Kasi, assistant commissioner of the border town of Taftan, said Iranian officials informed them that the incident took place in the Iranian territory.

Also read: Iranian forces fire mortar shells into Pakistani territory

However, he added, bodies of the six Pakistanis had not yet been handed over by the Iranians.

According to the sources, the Iranian forces intercepted a group of suspected drug smugglers travelling in their side of the border.

They allegedly carried a drug consignment.

A gunbattle was reported between Iranian forces and the suspected smugglers.

“They were drug smugglers and carried a large quantity of drugs,” the sources said, adding that the consignment was brought from Helmand province of Afghanistan which is known for poppy cultivation.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play