Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday to follow up on conditions of Iranian border guards who were abducted and transferred to Pakistan by terrorists late on Monday.

Zarif stressed the need for strengthening security at Iran-Pakistan borders based on previous agreements, the Foreign Ministry said on its website.

He urged the Pakistani government to take immediate and serious measures to ensure safety and health of the abductees.

Zarif also called for measures to identify and arrest those behind the terrorist attack and secure the release of the hostages.

Qureshi, in turn, condemned the move by the terrorist group and expressed deep regret over the incident.

“Pakistan will use all its capacities to take necessary measures to find and arrest the perpetrators and protect and release the Iranian guards,” he said. 

“These terrorist groups are common enemies of the two governments and nations who seek to disrupt close and friendly relations between the two neighbors,” he added.