Iran, Pakistan Weigh Plans to Step Up Border Security

IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – Highest-ranking military commanders from Iran and Pakistan have discussed ways to enhance security at the common border and prevent terrorist attacks.

In a telephone conversation on Monday evening, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri and Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa talked about the plans to intensify security along the common border.

The top Iranian commander stressed in the conversation that it is necessary for the two Muslim neighbours to broaden security measures along the common border to prevent the law-breaking terrorist groups and the common enemies of the two nations from disrupting security at the border.

Major General Baqeri also hailed the growing trend in the brotherly ties between the armed forces of Iran and Pakistan, expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness to promote “defense-economic cooperation” with the neighboring state.

The top commander also called on the Pakistani Army officials to take decisive action for the release of three Iranian border guards who have been held hostage by the so-called Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group.

For his part, General Qamar Javed Bajwa gave a brief report on Pakistan’s measures to construct barriers along the common border with Iran.

He also called for closer military interaction with Iran and the exchange of experts to ensure and maintain the border security and prevent the terrorist activities that upset security at the border areas.

Pakistan and Iran share over 900km-long border, which is infested with criminal gangs, militants and drug traffickers. Terrorist groups operating along the border have in the past carried out several attacks. Therefore, border security has for long remained a major irritant in bilateral ties. The terrorist groups based near the border have existed because of deep mistrust between the two countries.

The two neighbors have, however, over the past few years cooperated extensively in improving border security by undertaking several measures, including deployment of additional troops.

Gen Bajwa had in his maiden visit to Iran in 2017 as the army chief called the Pakistan-Iran border the “border of peace and friendship” and vowed closer cooperation with Tehran to ensure security in the region.

Pakistan and Iran had during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Tehran in April last year agreed to the setting up of a joint rapid reaction force for curbing activities of terrorist groups along the porous border.

In April 2019, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan agreed to set up a joint rapid reaction unit along the common border to combat terrorism.

Iranian military forces along the southeastern border areas are frequently attacked by terrorist groups coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan.