Iran alleges Pakistan played role in attack on Revolutionary Guard

Al-Shorfa online and wire services
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-10-20

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (C) addresses the Islamic volunteer Basij militia, affiliated to the Revolutionary Guard, at Ayatollah Khomeini’s mausoleum, just outside Tehran. (Photo by Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Pakistan to arrest the Jundullah attackers, who he said had entered Iran from Pakistan and launched an attack against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to state media reports, one or more suicide bombers targeted the group of Revolutionary Guards commanders who had organised a meeting with tribal leaders in the Pishin district in Sistan-Baluchistan, close to the Pakistani border. The

A total of 42 people died in the attack, including six Revolutionary Guards commanders. The deputy commander of the Guards' ground force, General Noor Ali Shooshtari, and the Guards' chief provincial commander, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, were among them. Dozens of people were injured.

"We were informed that some security agents in Pakistan are co-operating with the main elements of this terrorist incident," President Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the semi-official Iranian

"We regard it as our right to demand these criminals from them," he said. "We ask the Pakistani government not to delay the apprehension of the main elements in this terrorist attack."

According to the

Iran previously accused the U.S. and U.K. of contributing to the attack. In his first comments on the bombing, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini also blamed the United States.

Local media cited officials as saying that Jundallah, also known as the Popular Resistance Movement of Iran, had accepted responsibility for Sunday's bombing, although there were no direct claims from the group.

Jundallah has previously been accused by Iran of terrorist activities in the province. The organisation says it is fighting against political and religious oppression of the Sunni Muslim minority in the Shia-ruled country.

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