Ormara attackers came from Iran: FM Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Saturday said the terrorists behind the Ormara attack came from Iran and that Pakistan has decided to set up a border fence with Iran.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Qureshi said Baloch terror groups were behind the terrorist attack on Makran Coastal Highway and that BRAS which is the alliance of three Baloch terrorist organisations have claimed responsibility for the act.

He added, “15 terrorists entered the country on April 18. These terrorists camouflaged themselves in Frontier Corps (FC) uniform barricaded the road and stopped 3-4 buses travelling from Ormara to Gwadar on the coastal highway. The terrorists then identified passengers and shot 14 of them dead.”

“Among those killed were 10 members of the Navy, three air force and one belonged to the coastal guard,” Qureshi said.

“We have lodged a strong protest with Iran for not taking action against the group behind the killing of 14 passengers,” he asserted.

The foreign minister further said, BRAS has training and logistical bases across the border. “We have identified these locations. Pakistan awaits Iran’s response to our request for action against these groups based in Iran.”

“We are hopeful Iran will take action against these terrorists,” he added.

Moreover, Qureshi said he spoke to his Iranian counterpart earlier in the day and had a detailed discussion with him on the issue.

“Javad Zarif condemned the terrorist incident and reassured me that Iran will act on the information provided by Islamabad,” he said.

Speaking about the border fence, Qureshi said, “Pakistan will set up a 950 kilometres long border fence with Iran as we have with Afghanistan.”

He added Pakistan has set up a new southern command force that is based in Balochistan’s Turbat area. “Frontier Crops force has also been raised to increase border patrolling and we have decided to carry out aerial surveillance of the country’s border with Iran.”