The deputy chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee criticized Pakistan for taking "no action" to improve security along the joint frontier and deal with terrorist groups which organize their operations against Iran on Pakistani soil.
Mohammad Hassan Asafari said on Sunday, "Neighboring countries like Pakistan are equally responsible for maintaining security along the borders," adding that "Unfortunately the Islamabad government has given no undertaking and taken no action in order to address poor security at its borders (with Iran) and confront terrorist outfits that have bases inside Pakistani territory," ICANA reported.
Iran has a 300 kilometer-long stretch of joint border with Pakistan. There has been a spate of terrorist attacks in recent years with gunmen crossing the porous border with Pakistan.
In October, a number of Iranian police personnel and border guards lost their lives in separate terrorist attacks in Sistan and Baluchestan Province which borders Pakistan.
Last year, Tehran and Islamabad signed a security agreement under which both countries are required to cooperate in preventing and combating organized crime, fighting terrorism, and countering the activities that pose a threat to national security of either country.
Iranian officials have regularly criticized Islamabad for not taking adequate action to prevent terrorist groups from using its soil as an operation base against Iran and prevent them from crossing the common border. Iran has even hinted it may be forced to enter into Pakistani territory "to confront terrorists."
Asafari also called on authorities to allocate the necessary funds to fast-track projects for closure of borders, erecting barriers and digging trenches along the borders in order to prevent any illegal entry into Iranian territory. He said promoting security along the eastern, western as well as southern borders where takfiri terrorist groups are operating is of prime importance.
A takfiri is a Muslim who accuses another Muslim of heresy.
