TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The military chiefs of Iran and Pakistan on Tuesday voiced readiness to expand cooperation in fighting terrorism and ensuring security along the common border.
In a phone call, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir discussed ties and military cooperation between their countries as well as other issues of common interest, according to a statement published on the Iranian army's news website.
Mousavi highlighted the necessity to ensure security along the shared border, expressing regret over the rise in terrorist activities on both sides.
He voiced the Iranian armed forces' readiness to cooperate with their Pakistani counterparts to root out terrorism in the region and ensure the security of the shared border area.
Mousavi praised Pakistan's positions and support for Iran during the country's war with Israel in June, noting, "We expect that practical actions be taken against terrorists in view of bilateral cooperation."
Munir, for his part, said Pakistan shared Iran's viewpoints regarding the necessity to guarantee security along the common border, stressing that the Pakistan-Iran border should become that of "friendship, brotherhood and economic development."
He expressed confidence that Pakistan and Iran would achieve that objective in cooperation with each other.
Over the past years, the regions along the border between Iran and Pakistan have been the targets of several lethal attacks by groups designated as terrorists by both countries. ■
