Iranian agents have freed a diplomat from the Islamic republic who was kidnapped in Pakistan in November 2008, allegedly with the help of US and Israeli intelligence agencies, officials said yesterday.

Heshmatollah Attarzadeh was freed by Iranian intelligence agents outside the Islamic republic, officials said, indicating that his release was possibly a cross-border operation.

"The Iranian intelligence agents, in a successful operation, brought home the Iranian diplomat who was abducted in Peshawar, Pakistan," Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi told reporters in Tehran, according to state television.

Gunmen snatched Mr Attarzadeh on November 13, 2008 in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan. He was on his way to work in the commercial service of Iran's consulate in the city when his car was sprayed with bullets and his local guard killed.

Iranian media did not give details of Mr Attarzadeh's release or if there were any casualties during the mission, but Iran's envoy to Pakistan said the diplomat was freed outside the Islamic republic.

"His release was the result of a very vast and deep and complicated endeavour by the Iranian intelligence forces which took place at different locations in the region," Mashallah Shakeri told reporters in Islamabad.

Mr Shakeri declined to specify where Mr Attarzadeh was released, saying only that he was "recovered outside Iran and was returned to Iran," and adding that no ransom was paid to secure his release.

There was no immediate comment from the Pakistani authorities.