Pakistan, Iran agree on cooperation following border unrest

Pakistani and Iranian officials Wednesday agreed on intelligence cooperation at the border between the two neighbouring countries.

"The two sides agreed to boost intelligence cooperation with regard to border security," said Khan Wasay, a spokesman for the Frontier Corps (FC).

"Cooperation between the two countries in battling terrorists is indispensable," Dawn online quoted the spokesman as saying.

The meeting was held in Tehran between Inspector General, FC Balochistan, Maj. Gen. Ejaz Shahid and Iranian border force's chief Gen. Qasim Razai.

According to Wasay, the meeting was aimed at discussing ways and means to end border skirmishes.

The meeting was called in the wake of the recent flare-up along the 900-km border and with the objective of avoiding any untoward incidents in future.

On Oct 18, around 30 Iranian border guards stormed inside Pakistan and taken hostage the residents of Nokundi, a Pakistani town bordering Iran.

They attacked and killed an FC soldier and injured three others in Mand tehsil of Balochistan's Kech district.

The two countries have decided to ensure effective coordination to avoid any misunderstandings.

They also agreed that they cannot afford tension on the border and must make maximum efforts to ease the unrest.