Border issues: Pakistan, Iran to establish hotline between DGMOs

Chaudhry Nisar, Iranian counterpart attend roundtable talks.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday decided to establish a hotline between border security forces of the two countries in order to resolve issues at their border. Speaking at a joint news conference, the interior ministers of the two countries said the directors-general military operations (DGMOs) of both countries will be able to maintain constant contact through the hotline.

The decision came on the heels of recent tensions between the two neighbouring countries when five Iranian border guards were abducted by Jaish-ul Adl militant group on February 6. While Tehran claims the group is operating from Balochistan, Islamabad strongly denies the charges.

On Tuesday, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the interior minister of Iran, held detailed roundtable talks with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, and also met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit.

Following the guards’ abductions, Fazli had issued a rare warning saying Iran could launch an operation within Pakistan to recover its soldiers. Of the five guards, four were freed in early April while Iran believes that a fifth is still in the custody of the militant group.

Signs of tension and mistrust between the two neighbours were palpable at the news conference between the two ministers. While Fazli said the two countries have agreed to launch joint operations against militant groups, if necessary, Nisar politely clarified the statement, saying, “If there is any issue, we will carry out an operation on our side of the border and Iran will conduct an operation on their side.”

Similarly, when Nisar reiterated Pakistan’s position that the abducted guards were never brought onto Pakistani soil, his Iranian counterpart claimed that Tehran had already provided images and documentation about the militant group to Islamabad and will provide further details. The two sides agreed to form a joint task force or commission to work out an agenda for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to Iran.

Nisar said the present government seeks renewed ties with Iran, reflective of the aspirations of people in both countries. “We have a common faith, history and culture and the sky is the limit for our relations. Any irritant must be removed and we must grab this opportunity,” he remarked.

Fazli said Pakistan and Iran were taking steps towards the implementation of a security agreement, which had already been ratified by the Iranian parliament. He suggested a trilateral meeting of the interior ministers of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to improve situation in Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2014.