Top general urges boost in Iran-Pakistan ties against terrorist, separatist groups
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri said that the Armed Forces of Iran and Pakistan should further cooperate to fight terrorist and separatist groups and improve security at the common border.
Baqeri, who has traveled to Pakistan to meet the country’s officials, made the remarks in a meeting with the staff of Iran’s Embassy in Islamabad on Monday.
Baqeri stressed the need to strongly safeguard border areas between Iran and Pakistan “because the enemies seek to exploit our borders and we need more cooperation and coordination.”
Pointing to the significance of increasing trade and economic exchanges between the two countries, he said a number of border markets have opened and some others will be inaugurated as well.
In a meeting with Pakistan’s Army chief Lieutenant General Asim Munir, Baqeri said confronting the terrorist groups must continue with seriousness.
The Pakistani army chief, for his part, said that Islamabad is taking necessary and urgent measures to stop terrorist activities.
Expressing concern about the presence of terrorist groups in the region, he said that Iran and Pakistan are at the center of this threat. “So, our relations should be further improved because we believe in sustainable security at the border with Iran,” Pakistan’s Army chief said.
The Iranian and Pakistani officials are scheduled to discuss the improvement of defense cooperation, particularly in border areas and the fight against terrorism as well as the latest developments in the region and the Muslim world.
Baqeri was set to hold talks with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
The common border between the two countries have been the scene of many terrorist attacks in recent years, which have claimed the lives of a number of Iranian and Pakistani security forces.
In one of the deadliest terrorist attacks, 10 Iranian border guards were killed in the country’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan close to the border with Pakistan.
The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, which has carried out numerous attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan, claimed responsibility for the attack.