QUETTA: Pakistan and Iran agreed on Wednesday to tighten security along their border and share intelligence to maintain peace there.

Officials from border forces of the two countries met in Tehran and discussed recent incidents of cross-border firing and other issues pertaining to the border.

The Pakistani delegation was headed by Inspector General Frontier Corps Balochistan Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid and the Iranian team was led by Chief of Iran Border Police Gen Qasim Razai.

The meeting reviewed the situation arising out of the recent incidents of cross-border firing and mortar shelling from Iranian side into Pakistani territories. At least one Pakistani paramilitary officer was killed in the clashes which caused damage to property in Chagai and others Pakistani districts.

“Both chiefs of border forces...agreed to tighten security at the border besides sharing intelligence information to maintain peace and order at the border,” an FC spokesman said.

He said Maj Gen Shahid told Iranian officials that Pakistan was making efforts to curb terrorism, extremism and armed aggression. He stressed the need for Iranian cooperation to maintain durable peace in the region.

“Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid told Iranian officials that Pakistan wants durable relations with its neighbours and peace in the region,” the spokesman said.

The meeting agreed to evolve a joint mechanism to strengthen border security.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2014