Kidnapped Iranian guards released by Sunni militants after 4 years

Four of the Iranian border guards kidnapped last year by a Sunni militant group on the border with Pakistan were released on Wednesday, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said.

According to the semi-official Fars news agency, spokesman Bahram Qasemi thanked the Pakistani government for its efforts to facilitate the release of the guards.

The militant group Jaish al-Adl abducted 12 border guards in October on the border with Pakistan in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province. Five of the guards were released in November.