Iran Guards say Pak freed Jundallah leader
Tehran: The deputy head of Iran's elite
Revolutionary Guards charged today that Pakistan arrested and
then released the leader of Jundallah a few days before a
suicide bombing claimed by the Sunni rebel group.
"We have precise information about the movement and
places where terrorists are hiding," the Fars news agency
quoted Brigadier General Hossein Salami as saying.
"On September 26, Abdolmalek Rigi was arrested in one of
the streets of Quetta but after one hour he was released
following the intervention of the intelligence service of our
neighbouring country," Salami said.
Quetta is the capital of Pakistan's Baluchistan province,
which borders Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province where
Jundallah is active. Ethnic Baluchis, the community the rebel
group says it is fighting for, straddle the border.
Some 42 people, including 15 Revolutionary Guards
members, died in the October 18 bombing in the
Sistan-Baluchestan town of Pisheen.
"How is it possible that this guy can move freely (unless
he is) under the protection of the intelligence services?" the
Guards number two said, according to Fars.
Iran has said those responsible for the bombing were
based in Pakistan and has demanded that Islamabad hand Rigi
over.
Bureau Report