Pakistan --Pakistani forces detained 11 Iranian Revolutionary Guards on Monday for crossing into Pakistan days after an Iranian commander was reported saying his men should be allowed to confront terrorists in Pakistan.

The Guards were arrested in the Mashkhel area on the border with Iran eight days after a suicide bomber killed 42 people, including six Revolutionary Guard commanders, in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.

It's a serious matter. We are investigating why they crossed into our territory, said a Pakistani border security official, who declined to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to the media.

Another Pakistani security official said Iranian border officials had told them that the encroachment was accidental and happened after the Guards launched an operation near the border against the Sunni Muslim group, Jundollah (God's soldiers), which claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.

(Writing by Kamran Haider; Editing by Robert Birsel and Sanjeev Miglani)

Pakistan