ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani army says joint efforts are underway to turn thefrontier separating Iran and Pakistan into a “border of peace andfriendship.”
Major General Asif Qafour, Director General of Inter Services PublicRelations, said new crossings were to be opened on the common border tofacilitate movements of pilgrims and people living in border areas, IRNAreported, citing Pakistani media.
Over the past years, Iranian border guards have repeatedly come underattack by terror groups active on Pakistani soil.
Back in April, 10 Iranian border guards were killed and two others injuredin an ambush near the town of Mirjaveh in the southeastern Iranian provinceof Sistan and Baluchestan.
The so-called Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for theattack, which had been launched from the Pakistani soil. The assailantsescaped into the Pakistani territory immediately after the attack.
Shortly after the attack, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote toPakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, calling for the perpetrators to bebrought to justice. Iran also said the Islamic Republic reserved the rightto give a crushing response to the terrorist crime.
A month afterwards, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif traveledto Pakistan at the head of a high-ranking delegation, and the neighborsagreed to increase cooperation towards boosting security in their borderareas by setting up a joint security committee.
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa travelled toTehran last month at the head of a delegation of ranking military officialsfor talks with his Iranian counterpart and other officials. He held“useful” discussions with Iranian authorities, including President HassanRouhani.
‘Ball in US, Afghanistan court’
The Pakistani spokesman, meanwhile, said, “We have started the constructionof forts and posts on the Afghan border for effective border management.”
“What more does the US and Afghanistan want from us? It is time forAfghanistan and the US to do more for Pakistan,” he asserted.
The comments come amid frayed relations between Islamabad and Washingtonover what US President Donald Trump calls Pakistan’s support for militantgroups.
Officials in Islamabad have strongly rejected the allegations. They sayPakistan has made great effort to fight terrorism.