Iranian MP Urges Pakistan to Fight Terrorism in Border Areas
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Vice-Speaker of the Iranian parliament stressed that Pakistan should curb terrorist activities in border areas between the two countries.
“It is necessary that Pakistani officials prevent - by any means - the anti-security measures of outlaws and terrorist groups in the two countries’ border areas,” Mohammad Hassan Abutorabifard said Sunday in Tehran in a meeting with Assembly Speaker of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, Mir Jan Mohammad Khan Jamali.
Abutorabifard expressed concern over insecurity and the recent incidents in Iran-Pakistan border regions, warning that recurrence of such incidents could negatively affect the two countries’ ties.
He underlined that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to cooperate with Islamabad in fighting armed militants (operating in Pakistan).
In February 2013, Tehran and Islamabad signed a security agreement which requires both sides to take strict measures to combat terrorism and human and drug -rafficking.
Islamabad, however, has failed to stop cross-border attacks by terrorist groups like the so-called Jaish-ul-Adl.
On February 6, five Iranian soldiers were abducted in Jakigour region in Iran’s eastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan and taken to the Pakistani territory.
The Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the abductions.
While there were conflicting reports on the freedom of the guards on Saturday, a senior Iranian security official on Sunday said Tehran has not so far received any authentic report about their release.
An earlier report suggested that Pakistani security forces have freed 11 foreign hostages, including eight Iranians and three Tunisians, who had been held by militants in the southwest town of Turbat near the Iranian border.
According to Pakistani officials quoted by the AFP, the freed hostages did not include the five Iranian abductees.
Elsewhere in his remarks in meeting with Jamali, Abutorabifard referred to the brotherly and friendly relations between Tehran and Islamabad and called for expansion of ties in political, economic, cultural and security areas.
Jamali, for his part, called for enhancement of relations between Iran and Pakistan and further bilateral cooperation in different areas such as combating terrorism and drug-trafficking.
He expressed regret over the recent border incidents and said the enemies orchestrate these events to harm relations between Tehran and Islamabad but they will not succeed in their plot.
