Iran, Pakistan to cooperate on security matters

Tehran, Oct 25 - Iran and Pakistan have decided to increase cooperation on security matters and terrorism, Iranian news agency Mehr News reported Sunday.

Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Saturday that Iran and Pakistan have reached "significant agreements" on various security issues.

The two countries have agreed to boost border security, exchange information on security matters, and increase cooperation in the campaigns against drugs and human trafficking, he said in Islamabad Saturday.

The minister held separate meetings with Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director Ahmad Shuja Pasha Friday. Najjar also met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday.

Najjar said the Pakistani interior minister has promised to cooperate with Iran in the efforts to crack down on the Jundullah terrorist group which Iran says is based in Pakistan.

"Iran and Pakistan can begin a new golden era of strategic cooperation by rooting out the Jundullah terrorist group," Najjar said.

Najjar had travelled to Pakistan to discuss the two countries' response to the Oct 18 terrorist attack in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan in which at least 42 people were killed. Jundullah claimed responsibility for the attack.