Pakistan and Iran call for establishing mechanisms to oversee border security and to fight against the common threat posed by ISIS (Daesh)
Pakistan and Iran, in a joint statement, have stressed the need for establishing an institutional mechanism to oversee the border security, including a joint commission.
The joint statement was issued after a meeting between Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Nasser Khan Janjua and Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani in Tehran.
The two sides emphasized on regional security, fighting terrorism and bolstering fraternal relations between Iran and Pakistan.
‘Both countries believe that establishment of joint commissions to promote the effectiveness of relevant agreements, address cross-border security, and other structures to buttress relations are crucial; we believe talks should be continued in the future and political, security, and economic officials should frequent both capitals to deepen ties and to lead the present relations in a better path,’ officials said.
The two countries stressed the need to “sustain and develop relations”, and acknowledged the significance of “effective dialogue in countering border insecurity and in the joint fight against instability in the region and the Muslim world,” the statement added.
‘The ever-growing nature of threats by terrorism could not have been more devastating; fighting ISIL, which is a deviation from the standard Islam and which is a joint effort by enemies of Islam against unity of Muslims are mutually agreed issue between Iran and Pakistan,’ according to the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting.
This came against the backdrop of current strained ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Both countries have been at loggerheads due to the situation in Middle East particularly in Syria.
Relations between the two countries have gone from bad to worse in recent months as this year pilgrims from Iran would not be able to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia after the two countries failed to reach an agreement on the issue.
In February 2013, Iran and Pakistan signed a security agreement, under which both countries agreed to cooperate in preventing and combating organized crime, and fight against terrorism and activities posing a threat to the national security of the two countries.
Lieutenant General Nasser Khan Janjua visited with high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran including Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the new chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Interior Minister Rahmani Fazli, and adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ali Akbar Velayati to discuss security issues. During the talks the two sides reiterated that their brotherly relations were rooted in common history, culture and civilization.