Pakistan, Iran to strengthen border control

Pakistan and Iran have reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace along the border and agreed on new measures to strengthen border coordination and control, media reported Tuesday.

The agreement was reached at the eighth round of Pakistan-Iran Bilateral Political Consultations held in Islamabad Monday, Dawn online reported.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Rahimpour led the delegations of their countries.

"The two sides reviewed the recent border incidents and reiterated their firm resolve to maintain a tranquil Pakistan-Iran border," a statement said.

Pakistan and Iran have on several occasions witnessed tense moments at their border, primarily due to activities of militants and smugglers.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed on different steps for improving border control and coordination among their border officials to prevent a recurrence of the skirmishes witnessed since early October.