| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 16, 2001 |
Iran, Pakistan Pledge to Enhance Security Cooperation |
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Iran and Pakistan have agreed to set up an interior ministerial commission to enhance the bilateral cooperation in the field of security, the official IRNA news agency reported Friday.
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Iran and Pakistan have agreed to set up an interior ministerial commission to enhance the bilateral cooperation in the field of security, the official IRNA news agency reported Friday.
The agreement was contained in a memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad on Thursday by Pakistani Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider and his Iranian counterpart Abdolvahed Musavi Lari, who has just concluded his four-day official visit to Pakistan.
According to the document, the two neighbors agreed to make concerted efforts to implement the decisions taken by the Pakistan-Iran Special Committee jointly headed by the two interior ministers and another Joint Border Commission. The two sides also agreed on the extradition of criminals.
In order to implement the agreement, the two ministers will issue instructions to their border security forces to mutually cooperate in curbing illegal activities and apprehending outlaws who cross from one country to the other.
The two neighbors also decided to establish tax-free border markets and their ministries of commerce have been tasked to finalize the details.
Lari started his Islamabad tour on Tuesday to try to bring Tehran and Islamabad's stances on regional issues, particularly those pertaining to the ongoing Afghan crisis, closer to each other.
During his visit, Lari met Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf and held formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart Haider.
"My talks with Pakistani leaders were fruitful and in a very cordial environment," Lari said before his departure for home.
Shiite Iran does not recognize Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and has strongly criticized neighboring Pakistan for its previous backing of the Sunni fundamentalist militia.
Iran condemned the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, but opposes the US-led military campaign against Afghanistan for harboring prime suspect Osama bin Laden.
However, Pakistan firmly supports the U.S.-led military action.
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