QUETTA: Pakistani and Iranian officials held a meeting here on Wednesday underlining the need to make coordinated efforts to curb the menace of terrorism.

High level officials, from both sides, met to remove misunderstandings which had developed in the aftermath of abduction of five Iranian border guards on February 6. A Sunni militant group, Jaish-al-Adal (Party of Justice) had claimed the responsibility for kidnapping the Iranian guards. Chief Secretary Balochistan, Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, led the Pakistani delegation whereas Deputy Governor Sistan-Balochistan, Ali Asghar Shikari, represented Iran in the meeting.

Home Secretary Balochistan, chief of Balochistan police, chief of FC and other high level officials also participated in the meeting. During the meeting, the Pakistani delegation raised the issue of repeated violation by Iranian border guards near bordering areas i.e. Mashkail, Taftan and other areas.

“Iran has repeatedly fired rockets in Mashkail in recent days”, an insider of the meeting who requested not to be named said while quoting the Pakistani side. However, the Iranian delegation complained that there was an infiltration of militants from Pakistan into Iran.

The Iranians claimed that the militant group which had claimed responsibility for kidnapping five border guards was operating in Balochistan province. The charge was vehemently denied by Pakistani officials. “We have already ordered law enforcers to carry out a search operation in the bordering area,” the Pakistani delegation assured the Iranians.

Chief Secretary Balochistan Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad told reporters that the meeting would continue on Thursday as well and both sides were serious in resolving issues related to the Pak-Iran border. He added Pakistan and Iran had cordial relations and both were determined to boost relations in the future.—INP