ISLAMABAD: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday added Iran’s current ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, to its list of most wanted individuals, accusing him and two other Iranian officials of involvement in the 2007 abduction of a retired special agent from Iran’s Kish Island.

The FBI said the release of “Seeking Information” posters featuring the three senior Iranian officials was part of its ongoing investigation into Robert A. “Bob” Levinson’s disappearance and Iran’s alleged efforts to conceal its responsibility.

The other two named individuals are Taghi Daneshvar, identified as a counterespionage officer in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, a senior MOIS deputy who served as Iran’s ambassador to Albania before being expelled in 2018.

“These three intelligence officers were among those who allegedly facilitated Bob’s 2007 abduction and the subsequent cover-up by the Iranian government,” Steven Jensen, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said in the statement. “Bob likely later perished in captivity far away from his family, friends, and colleagues.”

“The FBI will continue its relentless pursuit to hold anyone involved in his abduction to account for their reprehensible actions,” he added.

According to the FBI, Moghadam, also known as Ahmad Amirinia, led MOIS’s operations unit at the time of Levinson’s abduction. The agency said European-based MOIS agents reported to him in Tehran.

The statement said authorities in Tehran attempted to shift blame for the FBI agent’s abduction onto a militant group operating in Pakistan’s Balochistan region.

The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $5 million for information that leads to Levinson’s location, recovery and return.

In addition, the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $20 million for relevant information in the case.

KARACHI: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening ties with China, while addressing a ceremony marking the 98th founding day of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), according to an official statement.

Islamabad and Beijing are long-time allies and have jointly pursued multibillion-dollar infrastructure, energy and regional connectivity projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship initiative of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The corridor provides Beijing with direct access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan’s Gwadar port, while enabling Islamabad to modernize infrastructure and boost regional trade.

The two countries also maintain close cooperation in defense and security. Earlier this month, India’s Deputy Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh, claimed China had provided Pakistan with “live inputs” during a four-day military conflict with India in May. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in an exclusive interview with Arab News last month, described the outcome as a “victory” that was entirely “Made in Pakistan.”

“In his address, the CJCSC highlighted the enduring and time-tested ‘Iron-clad brotherhood’ between Pakistan and China, with shared resolve to broaden and deepen this unique relationship across all domains,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.

“He commended PLA’s pivotal role under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Xi Jinping for China’s remarkable development and rapid modernization, which has transformed People’s Republic of China into a key pillar of peace, stability and prosperity,” the statement added. “CJCSC highlighted China as a stabilizing factor in the regional security dynamics.”

The event, held in Rawalpindi, was attended by a wide cross-section of civilian and military officials, diplomats, media representatives and business leaders.

General Mirza also reiterated Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment” to ensuring the security of Chinese nationals working in the country.

Thousands of Chinese citizens are employed across dozens of CPEC-linked projects, many of which are located in volatile regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where separatist and militant groups have repeatedly targeted foreign workers.

Chinese nationals have also come under attack in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and commercial capital, prompting authorities to implement tighter security protocols.