Pakistan to fence border with Iran after Ormara incident: FM Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday the terrorists behind the April 18 incident of the killing of 14 people in Balochistan’s Ormara came from Iran.

“15 to 20 terrorists crossed over the Pak-Iran border,” he said while speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad.

Qureshi said the terrorists clad in camouflage uniform of the Frontier Corps entered Pakistan from Iran, adding they intercepted buses on the Makran Coastal Highway and then shot dead 14 of the passengers upon identification as personnel of security forces after offloading them from buses.

Those martyred in the incident included 10 personnel of the Pakistan Navy, three of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and one coast guard, he added.

“I had said I won’t make a statement until we get certified information. I didn’t want to make a rash statement like India did in the wake of Pulawama incident,” the foreign minister said.

He said Baloch insurgent groups had accepted responsibility for the incident and added the areas where such elements are trained had been identified and that Iranian authorities have been informed about such areas.

Qureshi said terrorists’ training camps in the border areas have been traced and expressed the hope that Iranian authorities will take action against such elements.

He recalled Pakistan’s security force had fully cooperated with Iran in ensuring recovery of the Iranian border guards who were abducted from the border areas last year in October.

“Pakistan and Iran enjoy long-standing ties. We have forensic evidence which we can share with Iranian officials,” he said.

The foreign minister said it has been decided that the 950-kilometer long border with Iran will be fenced. Besides, he added, a southern command has been constituted which will be headquartered in Turbat as there would also be patrolling and helicopter surveillance along the border.