<\/p>\n
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Monday said there was \u201cno doubt\u201d that militants located in the border areas of Pakistan and Iran were \u201cled and supported by third countries\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no doubt that the terrorists located in the common border regions and areas of Iran and Pakistan are led and supported by third countries and they never favour any good action in line with the benefits of the Iranian and Pakistani governments and nations,\u201d the Iranian foreign minister said.<\/p>\n
He made the remarks while addressing a joint press conference alongside interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani in Islamabad. Abdollahian had arrived in Pakistan earlier today, following which he and FM Jilani discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries.<\/p>\n
According to the Foreign Office (FO), the two had \u201cunderscored the importance of robust dialogue and cooperation as the pathway for a positive, forward-oriented and upward trajectory in bilateral relations\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two sides agreed to work towards promoting the mutually desired goals of peace and prosperity, based on mutual respect and a collective approach to address common challenges,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
The remarks by the Iranian official come days after tensions escalated<\/a> between the neighbours following a deadly Iranian air strike<\/a> in Pakistan, leading Islamabad to strike terrorist hideouts in the neighbouring country\u2019s Sistan-Baluchestan province.<\/p>\n Moreover, on Saturday nine Pakistani workers were gunned down<\/a> by unidentified attackers in Sistan-Baluchestan. Pakistan has demanded a comprehensive investigation and swift prosecution of those responsible for the brutal attack.<\/p>\n At the outset of his speech, the Iranian minister highlighted that both countries \u201cnever had territorial differences\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOur historical bilateral relations and connections testify that we are a single nation located in two different geographical positions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said he had received Islamabad\u2019s invitation for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Pakistan.<\/p>\n The minister stated that both Iran and Pakistan respected each other\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are here, so in a loud voice we will tell all terrorists that Iran and Pakistan will not provide them with any opportunity to endanger our common security,\u201d Abdollahian asserted.<\/p>\n He added that both sides had agreed to take \u201cfurther actions as soon as possible when it comes to border security [and] necessity of fighting against terrorism\u201d, as well as expansion of trade, commercial and economic cooperation.<\/p>\n In his remarks, FM Jilani said that during the meeting between him and his Iranian counterpart, both sides had agreed to \u201cestablish a high-level constructive mechanism at the level of foreign ministers of the two countries\u201d.<\/p>\n He added that the mechanism would \u201cmeet alternatively in both Iran and Pakistan on a regular basis to oversee the progress that is being made in various areas of cooperation\u201d.<\/p>\nHigh-level mechanism to be established<\/h2>\n