ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security Nasser Khan Janjua discussed issues related to border management and regional security with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran on Monday.
Janjua left for Tehran on Sunday on the invitation of the Iranian government and with the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, according to a statement issued by the PM House. “Iran is our brotherly country and an important neighbour. Pakistan attaches great importance to this tour and hopes it will be helpful in achieving all desired objectives,” the statement added.
During his tour, the adviser is also expected to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and some high-ranking Iranian officials. His visit to Iran comes at a time when Islamabad and Kabul are poised to discuss a mechanism to keep in check illegal cross-border movement on the Pakistan, Afghanistan border.
Pakistan introduced a new mechanism from June 1, making it obligatory for every Afghan citizen to carry legal travel documents for entering into the Pakistani territory. Before this, thousands of Afghans, living near the border, would enter Pakistan without passport and visas. Pakistani officials insisted that the militants would take advantage of the loose border control and would move on either sides of the border for carrying out terrorist activities.
Afghanistan had complained that Pakistan introduced the new system without consultation with them first. Both the sides had been involved in border clashes last month over the construction of a gate on the Pakistani side of the Torkham border. Later, the two countries agreed on a ceasefire and a joint committee to address to the border disputes. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a mostly porous border that is nearly 2,600km-long.
