Pakistani army chief calls on bilateral cooperation with Iran to ensure border security

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa called on enhancement of bilateral cooperation with Iran to ensure border security in a telephonic conversation with Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri, Pakistani army said on Tuesday.

Bajwa expressed concerns over a recent terrorist attack on Pakistani security forces near Pak-Iran border, a statement from the army's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

On Friday, six Pakistani security personnel were killed in a roadside bomb attack in southwestern Balochistan province during a routine patrolling near the Iranian border.

The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack in a brief statement posted on social media.

The army statement said that both commanders, who spoke on Monday, "resolved to enhance security measures on either side of the border."

Bajwa told the Iranian commander that Pakistan has started fencing the border but bilateral cooperation is required to ensure border security and stem smuggling activity which is also used by terrorists and traffickers for covering their movement, according to the statement.

The Pakistani army chief reiterated Pakistan's desire for regional peace and stability on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference and equality, the statement said.