TEHRAN: Eight Iranian border guards have been killed in a clash with Sunni rebels who had infiltrated from neighbouring Pakistan, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

“Armed terrorists entered Iran from Pakistan and clashed with border guards, killing eight soldiers before fleeing back to Pakistan,” Ali Asghar Mirshekari, deputy governor of Sistan-Balochistan province, told the news agency.

Balochistan has a large Sunni community and has seen repeated attacks by militants on the security forces of mainly Shia Iran.

Explore: Tensions on Pak-Iran border

But the clash in the Negur district was the deadliest since October 2013 when 14 border guards were killed in an attack claimed by Sunni militant group Jaish-ul Adl (Army of Justice).

Read: Sixteen hanged after 14 Iranian border guards die in attack

The same group captured five Iranian troops in February last year out of which four were released last April. The fifth is still missing presumed dead.

Take a look: Pakistan, Iran agree to enhance border cooperation

Pakistan and Iran last year agreed to enhance mutual cooperation and coordination to fight terrorism, narcotics and human smuggling.

The meeting came after improvement of ties and an end of blame game between the two neighbors over border issues.

Personnel of law enforcement agencies had also participated in the meeting to apprise the border officers with regard to border issues, they said. Both countries had decided to double their efforts to ensure legal movement at the border.

It was also decided to ensure holding of mutual meetings to remove misunderstandings and improve better coordination, sources said.