ISLAMABAD: Ten Iranian border guards were killed in Taftan city, located in the country’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province bordering Pakistan, during clashes with militants, Iran’s state media reported on Saturday.
One of Iran’s poorest regions, Sistan-Baluchistan on the border with Pakistan has long been plagued by unrest involving drug-smuggling gangs, rebels from the Baloch minority and religiously motivated militants.
“Sistan and Baluchestan police information base announced in a statement that a few hours ago, armed gangs clashed with the border police patrol in Goharkoh, Taftan city, in Sistan and Baluchestan province, and killed 10 border guards,” state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said in a post on its website.
The state media said Iran’s minister of interior appointed a team to investigate the “dimensions of this incident.”
Pakistan and Iran have had a history of rocky relations despite a number of commercial pacts, with Islamabad being historically closer to Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Pakistan and Iran are also often at odds over instability on their shared porous border, with both countries routinely trading blame for not rooting out militancy.
The militant group Jaish Al-Adl (Army of Justice) has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Iranian forces in Sistan and Baluchestan.
Tensions surged in January when Pakistan and Iran exchanged airstrikes, both claiming to target alleged militant hideouts in each other’s countries. Both sides have since then undertaken peace overtures and restored bilateral ties.
Iran says 10 guards killed during clash with militants in province bordering Pakistan
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Iran says 10 guards killed during clash with militants in province bordering Pakistan
- Armed gangs clashed with border police patrol in Taftan located in Sistan-Baluchestan province, says Iranian state media
- Pakistan and Iran are often at odds over instability on shared porous border, blaming each other for not rooting out militants
Pakistan eye series win over Sri Lanka in third T20I today
- Pakistan are 1-0 up in the series after beating Sri Lanka by six wickets in first T20I
- Second match of the series was abandoned without play due to rain on Friday
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha will be eyeing a series win over Sri Lanka today, Sunday, as the two sides lock horns for the third and final T20I match of the series in Dambulla.
Pakistan are 1-0 up in the three-match series after their win over Sri Lanka in the first T20I by six wickets earlier this week. However, the second T20I between the two sides, scheduled to be played on Friday, was abandoned due to rain.
Pakistani cricketers took part in a net practice session on Saturday night ahead of the third T20I.
“Pakistan players busy in the nets ahead of the clash against Sri Lanka,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the first T20I after bowling out the hosts for 128. Left-arm pacer Salman Mirza took 3-18 while spinners Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan pitched in with figures of 3-25 and 2-25 respectively.
Pacer Mohammad Wasim returned figures of 2-7 from his 2.2 overs.
In response, Pakistani openers fared well, with left-handed batter Saim Ayub scoring 24 from 18 balls while Sahibzada Farhan smashed 51 runs from 36 balls.
Khan remained unbeaten with 18 runs from 12 balls to lead Pakistan to the win.
The series will serve as preparation for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin in February.
