“Based on investigations, the report that one of the five Iranian border guards has been martyred was confirmed,” Press TV quoted deputy governor general of Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, Ali Asghar Mirshekari, as saying on Monday.

On February 6, the Iranian border guards were abducted in the Jakigour region of the province, on the border with Pakistan. The men were later transferred to the Pakistani territory.

The so-called Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the abductions.

In a Sunday Tweet, Jaish-ul-Adl terrorists claimed that they had killed one of the abductees, called Jamshid Danaeifar.

Iran has declared that it holds the Pakistani government responsible for the lives of the Iranian hostages.

On February 9, Iran’s Foreign Ministry invited Pakistani Ambassador to Tehran Noor Mohammad Jadmani in protest at the abduction.

On October 25, 2013, Jaish-ul-Adl killed 14 Iranian border guards and wounded six others in the border region near the city of Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

In February 2013, Iran and Pakistan signed a security agreement under which both countries are required to cooperate in preventing and combating organized crime, fighting terrorism and countering the activities that pose a threat to the national security of either country.

Iran has repeatedly called on Pakistan to comply with the terms of the agreement.

BA/BA