QUETTA, Jan 26: Iranian security forces shot dead six Pakistanis and injured two others on their side of the border near Gwadar on Thursday. “Six Pakistanis were killed in the Chah-Bahar area inside Iran in firing by Iranian forces,” Deputy Commissioner, Gwadar, Abdul Rehman Dashti told Dawn.

Iranian authorities had not handed over the bodies and the injured to us so far, he added.

“We are writing to Iranian authorities for handing over the bodies,” Mr Dashti said.

Sources said that eight men from Gub-Kalato in Gwadar district had gone to Iran a few days ago. They came under fire when they were returning to Pakistan. The sources said the Iranians opened fire without any warning. “Six Pakistanis received multiple bullet wounds and died on the spot.”

Officials in the coastal town of Jiwany said the Pakistanis killed in the firing were cattle traders and had gone to Iran legally.