Pak, Iran for joint efforts against terrorism
- February 19, 2014, 7:14 pm
- Breaking News
- 69 Views
QUETTA, Feb 19 (ONline): Pakistani and Iranian officials held a meeting on Wednesday underlining the need to make coordinated efforts to curb the menace of terrorism.
High level officials, from both sides, met to remove misunderstandings which had developed in the aftermath of abduction of five Iranian border guards on February 6 this month.
A Sunni militant group, Jaish-al-Adal (Party of Justice) had claimed the responsibility for kidnapping the Iranian guards.
According to media reports Chief Secretary Balochistan, Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, led the Pakistani delegation whereas Deputy Governor Sistan-Balochistan, Ali Asghar Shikari, represented Iran in the meeting.
Home secretary Balochistan, chief of Balochistan police, chief of FC and other high level officials also participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, the Pakistani delegation raised the issue of repeated violation by Iranian border guards near bordering areas i.e. Mashkail, Taftan and other areas.
"Iran has repeatedly fired rockets in Mashkail in recent", an insider of the meeting who requested not to be named told a private TV channel while quoting the Pakistani side.
However, the Iranian delegation complained that there was an infiltration of militants from Pakistan into Iran.
The Iranians claimed that the militant group which had claimed responsibility for kidnapping five border guards was operating in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
The charge was vehemently denied by Pakistani officials.
"We have already ordered law enforcers to carry out a search operation in the bordering area", the Pakistani delegation assured the Iranians.
Iranian Interior Minister, Abdul Raza Rehmani had threatened to carry out operation on Pakistani soil if Iranian guards were not recovered.
Chief Secretary Balochistan, Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad told reporters that the meeting would continue on Thursday as well and both sides were serious in resolving issues related to the Pak-Iran border.
He added Pakistan and Iran had cordial relations and both were determined to boost relations in the future.
Pakistan shares 900 km border in the West with Iran.
Both countries have formed a joint border commission few years back to promote mutual understanding and discuss issues relating to the border.
Strict security measures were put in place during the border commissions meeting at a local hotel.
In addition to policemen, personnel of Frontier Corps were also deployed around the hotel.
