Two Pakistani youths who went missing in Iran while attempting to travel abroad through the illegal “dunki” route have been recovered safely and reached the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said on Wednesday.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the breakthrough came through coordinated efforts led by FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar and the agency’s Link Office in Iran.

The recovered youths were identified as Talha and Shehzad, both residents of Bhaseen village in Lahore.

The FIA said the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran has taken both men into its custody, while efforts are continuing to trace and safely recover the remaining missing Pakistanis.

The development comes after the FIA registered three cases and detained the father of a suspected human smuggler in connection with the disappearance of 12 Pakistani youths who allegedly travelled to Iran through the illegal “dunki” route.

Five people were nominated in the cases, including alleged human smuggler Aamir Bhobhla, his father Taj Muhammad, his brother Sabir, and two others.

Authorities detained Taj Muhammad during a raid in Lahore’s Bhaseen area, while Sabir remains absconding. The alleged ringleader, Aamir Bhobhla, has yet to be arrested.

According to the affected families, the alleged agent charged around Rs1 million from each youth before sending them on the illegal route.

The families later claimed they received ransom demands and a video showing some of the missing youths in distress with chains around their necks, while the suspected traffickers allegedly demanded an additional $6,000 per person for their release.

The FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Cell has been working with the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran to trace the missing youths and facilitate their safe return. Authorities said efforts to recover the remaining Pakistanis are ongoing.