Quetta, Sept 11: Border guards arrested 43 Pakistanis for allegedly trying to enter neighbouring Iran without travel documents, an official said today. The men were picked up late Tuesday near Taftan, in a remote corner of Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province, said Mohammed Akbar Baluch, a deputy director of the federal investigation agency, which is responsible for enforcing immigration laws.

Taftan lies 700 km southwest of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan.
"These men did not have documents when they were arrested," said Baluch.


The area is a common route for illegal immigrants from Pakistan who try to cross into Iran and travel onward to Europe.
The long Pakistan-Iran border is poorly guarded and spans rugged terrain and desert, although in recent months both countries have increased patrols.

Bureau Report