Pakistan and Iran sign MoU to improve border security management

Pakistan and Iran on Sunday agreed not to let their territories be used for terrorism against each other as the two neighbouring countries signed an MoU to improve border security management, a media report said.

Pakistan shares a 900-kilometre-long border with Iran which in the recent months has expressed concern over militants operating along the Pakistani border.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the 21st two-day meeting of Pakistan-Iran Joint Border Commission in the port city of Gwadar in Balochistan province.

The joint proposals pertaining to border situation, security matters, immigration and border trade between the two countries were discussed, Radio Pakistan reported.

The meeting expressed firm determination to check drugs smuggling, intrusion of illegal immigrants and not let use of their respective soils for terrorism against each other, the report said.

Provincial Chief Secretary Aurangzeb Haque led the Pakistani side while Deputy Governor Sistan-Balochistan province Ali Asghar Mir Shikari headed the Iranian delegation, it added.

In July, an Iranian drone was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force fighter jet in the restive Balochistan province.

In April, nine Iranian border guards were killed by militants in a cross-border attack on the frontier with Pakistan. Following the attack, Iran had summoned the Pakistani envoy to protest the attack.