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The visiting Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli said on Tuesday that Pakistan has agreed on joint operations against terrorists and drug traffickers in the border regions.
Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, however, said that security of both countries would carry out operations on their respective side of the border.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad after holding official talks on security issues the two sides agreed on establishment of hot lines between the senior military and border officials to coordinate on security and border issues.
Relationship between the two neighboring countries had been tense in recent months after a militant group kidnapped five Iranian guards.
Iran had claimed that the group "Jaish-ul-Adal" had kidnapped the guards to Pakistan in February, but Pakistan said the guards had never been brought to Pakistani side.
"In the area of security, we agreed on sharing intelligence information as well as establishment of joint committees and having periodical visits from the borders and also carrying out simultaneous operations and if necessary joint operation against terrorism, money laundering as well as drug traffickers," the Iranian interior minister said.
Pakistani Interior Minister Nisar told the news conference that there would be closer intelligence cooperation, greater security collaboration and greater sharing of information.
"We have agreed in principle to establish a hot line between the heads of Pakistan paramilitary border force, the Frontier Corps, and the Iranian border security force.
"We have also floated the proposal of a hotline between the director generals of the military operations on the both sides of the border for greater cooperation in every area," Nisar said.
"But if there is an issue of this side of the border and an operation is required, the Pakistani security forces will carry out the operations. And if there is an issue on the other side of the border, the Iranian forces will carry out the operation," he said.
The Iranian minister, who had also met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said the Iranian sides raised important issues to promote and expand security and economic cooperation between the two countries
Nawaz Sharif is likely to pay a two-day official visit to Iran on May 11-12.
"We are hopeful that the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Iran will provide opportunity to both sides to discuss issues that would ensure security for Pakistan, Iran and the regional countries," the Iranian minister said.
On economic aspects, he said both sides agreed to strengthen border markets and boost the exchange of goods and commodities.
"We also agreed on the increase of investment of Pakistani side in Iran and the Iranian investors move towards Pakistan as it would pave the way for sustainable development and the sustainable development that will lead to security and stability."
He also said the interior ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran could meet to enhance cooperation in border areas of Balochistan province.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met the Iranian minister Tuesday morning and said Pakistan attaches great importance to its brotherly relations with Iran and seeking a peaceful neighborhood remains a policy priority of his government.
The prime minister said he looks forward to his visit to Iran and meeting with President Hassan Rouhani, adding the visit will not only serve as a political affirmation of the relations, but would also set a new direction for their future course based on mutual trust, confidence and cooperative partnership.
