No militant groups will be allowed to operate from Pakistan: Imran Khan

Tehran: Islamabad and Tehran on Monday agreed to form a 'rapid reaction force' to be deployed on their shared border as part of efforts to deal with the growing threat of terrorism.

The agreement was reached between the two neighbours following talks between the visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Iranian President Hasan Rouhani in Tehran.

Imran undertook a maiden trip to Iran against the backdrop of recent terrorist attacks in both the countries, something that caused a hiccup in their bilateral ties.

But talks between Khan and Rouhani appeared to have helped ease tensions as the two countries agreed on a raft of measures to deal with the problem of terrorism that has affected both in recent months.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Pakistani premier, the Iranian president announced that both countries had agreed to expand their security cooperation.

"We have agreed to expand our security cooperation in border areas and also agreed to set up rapid action force to tackle it," Rouhani told reporters at the news conference.

Highlighting the common threat facing the two countries, Imran Khan acknowledged that some of the groups, which carried out attacks inside Iran, were operating from Pakistan.

However, he made it clear that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used against any neighbour including Iran. He said there is a political consensus in Pakistan that terrorist groups have no place in the country.

His bold statement created some controversy back home with certain people questioning the wisdom behind publicly admitting the presence of anti-Iran groups.

The transcript issued by the foreign office later omitted the reference and said "recently 14 security forces killed in Baluchistan and Iran has also suffered from terrorist activities."

"We will not allow any militant group to use our soil against anyone. Both countries will not allow any other to use their soil for terrorist activities. This will build confidence between us," Imran Khan said.

Relationship between the two countries was tense since terrorist attack in Iran killed scores of Iranian Revolutionary Guards. While Tehran suspected Pakistan based groups for being behind the attack, Islamabad also lodged a protest with Tehran after the last week's attack on a coastal highway in which 14 security personnel were brutally gunned down by an alliance of Baloch terrorist outfits.

A day before the premier's visit, Pakistan had said the Ormara attack was originated from Iran.

Official sources familiar with the discussions in Tehran told The Express Tribune that the Prime Minister Khan did raise the issue with the Iranian leadership with a hope that such groups would not be allowed to carry out attacks in future.

"Issues of the security of borders were discussed. In the past some terrorists did some attacks," Rouhani said vowing not to allow 'third party' to undermine ties between the two countries. Imran Khan admitted that the issue of terrorism was undermining cooperation between the two countries

"Issue of terrorism is increasing differences between us," he said adding, "We have suffered more than any other country. Pakistan military and security forces have done much and overcome this menace."

Khan said the four decades of war in Afghanistan had affected both Iran and Pakistan. "There are 2.7 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan and 3 million in Iran," he said.

He said peace would not only help Afghanistan but also greatly benefit Pakistan and Iran. Both sides backed the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process.

Meeting with Khamanei

The PM also met the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamanei. The meeting was attended by the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. A joint statement issued at the conclusion of the PM's two-day visit highlighted historical, cultural, religious ties between the two neighboring and Muslim countries.

The sides agreed to expand relations in all areas of mutual interest and reiterated the importance of deepening and reinforcing the bilateral ties based on principles of national interest, territorial integrity and mutual respect for national sovereignty. They called for swift implementation of bilateral agreements as a step towards realising this important goal.

Both sides highlighted that common borders should be the borders of peace and friendship, and acknowledged the necessity of forging regular cooperation and exchange of views between political, military and security officials of the two countries to combat threats such as terrorism, smuggling of narcotics, human trafficking, hostage-taking, money-laundering and abduction. It was also agreed that the 10th Round of the Special Security Committee of the two ministries of interior will be held in Islamabad in June 2019 to discuss these matters in detail.

Rouhani and Khan agreed that enhancing and cementing cooperation between Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province and Pakistan's Balochistan province would contribute towards improvement of the economic situation of local residents, and help in resolving border challenges and insecurities. This cooperation includes opening of new border crossings and border markets.

Rouhani and Khan agreed that enhancing and cementing cooperation between Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province and Pakistan's Balochistan province would contribute towards improvement of the economic situation of local residents, and help in resolving border challenges and insecurities. This cooperation includes opening of new border crossings and border markets.