Iran welcomes Rigi’s arrest

Islamabad, Dec 27, IRNA -- Iran has welcomed the arrest of Abdul Rauf Rigi, calling on the Pakistani government to deal with terrorists sternly.

“Abdul Rauf Rigi`s arrest reflects the decisive determination of the government of Pakistan to confront terrorism,” Ali Akbar Javanfekr, press adviser to Iran's president, told Pakistan Dawn newspaper.

Iran wants Pakistan to deal with terrorists sternly, he added.

Rauf is the younger brother of Abdolmalek Rigi, who was captured earlier this year in a dramatic way while flying through Iranian airspace and recently executed on charges of murder, kidnapping and carrying out subversive activities.

Rauf is said to have been detained in Balochistan after his telephone call with London-based daily al-Sharq al-Awsat was intercepted leading security personnel to his hideout along the Pakistan-Iran border.

In his interview with the Arabic-language daily, Rauf had threatened to kill an abducted Iranian nuclear plant worker in retaliation to the execution of 11 bandits from his group.

Pakistani officials said on Saturday that Rauf Rigi was likely to be handed over to Iran after his interrogation here was completed.

Rauf is the second Rigi brother to have been arrested by Pakistani authorities. Earlier, Abdolhamed Rigi was arrested in 2008 and handed over to Iran.

Javanfekr, reflecting the change of mood in Tehran, said Iran believed that the government and people of Pakistan had been themselves victims of terrorism and hence would not support terrorism.

However, he added, Iran was urging Pakistan to tackle terrorism more seriously and stop the terrorists from carrying out cross-border attacks in Iran.

Javanfekr hoped that the determination and will of both countries would improve bilateral ties would “remove the obstacles in the way”.

Pakistan and Iran have in the past signed a plethora of agreements for cooperation, but hardly anyone has materialised as yet because of political differences, particularly over Afghanistan./end