ISLAMABAD, Aug 6: Islamabad has conveyed its concern to Tehran that the Indian consulate in Zahidan is involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Sources in the federal interior ministry told Dawn on Sunday that the concern was conveyed at a two-day Joint Working Group meeting of the two countries held to discuss terrorism, border security, human smuggling and drug trafficking. The meeting concluded in Iran on Thursday.
Pakistan’s delegation headed by Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah returned to the country on Sunday.
According to the sources, the two sides decided that border field commanders and senior border commanders of Sistan and Balochistan provinces would hold monthly and quarterly meetings. If needed, they would also hold special meetings for prompt exchange of information and better coordination on matters relating to border security.
The sources said the two sides decided to take effective measures to check illegal movement of their citizens and those of other countries across their borders. They also decided to exchange information on human traffickers, besides identifying and arresting the main agents responsible for the illegal practice.
They reiterated to provide consular access to prisoners of the two countries and decided to hold the second session of the Joint Consular Committee in Tehran during the current month in order to resolve such issues. They also agreed to take effective measures to check smuggling of goods across the borders.
Reiterating the need to effectively combat drug trafficking, Pakistan and Iran emphasised the need for implementing previous agreements. They agreed that information related to the movement of terrorists and smugglers, their hideouts and their activities would be exchanged through concerned authorities.
They also agreed to add to the information contained in the lists of criminals already exchanged by the two countries, and take measures to locate and arrest them.
For closer cooperation in the field of security, a proposal for security agreement between the two countries also came under discussion, and it was decided that Iran’s interior ministry would prepare a draft agreement for consideration of both the governments.
Meanwhile, talking to Dawn, the secretary interior said host of issues of mutual concern including border controls, prisoners problems, human smuggling, activities of miscreants and bandits on the common bordering areas, terrorism and drug trafficking were discussed during the two-day meeting.
The two countries resolved to jointly address these issues in the best spirit of brotherhood and good neighbourly relations, he said.
The two countries, he said, had identical views on the issue of terrorism and were cooperating with each other to tackle it jointly, the secretary said.