High level officials from both sides met for a third day to remove misunderstandings which had developed in the aftermath of the abduction of the five border guards.
"Pakistain will strictly act if we get any information regarding the presence of kidnapped Iranian soldiers on our soil," Chief Secretary Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
, Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad told news hounds at a joint presser in Quetta.
The guards were seized on February 6 in the Iranian province of Sistan-Balochistan by gunnies who allegedly took them across the border to Pakistain. A Sunni- bad boy group, Jaish ul Adl (Party of Justice), had grabbed credit for the kidnapping.
Following the incident, the Iranian interior minister had threatened to send troops into Pak territory if the kidnapped soldiers were not recovered.
The three-day meeting of officials from both sides thoroughly discussed border issues, trade, extradition of criminals, fisheries and violations of the international border.
The chief secretary said that both countries have decided to form a joint committee comprising bigwigs from both sides to keep a vigilant eye on border violations and other issues relating to the Pakistain-Iran border.
He said the committee would present its report to the border commission after three months, adding that both sides have agreed to boost coordination to avoid misunderstanding and promote bilateral relations. "Less communication can lead to misunderstandings," he said.
Ali Asghar Shikari, the deputy governor of Sistan-Balochistan who was representing the Iranian delegation, expressed serious concern over the kidnapping and said that the incident had harmed the feelings of the Iranian people. "It is important for us to address the issue of kidnapping of the border guards," he told news hounds during the joint presser.
He said that the Pak delegation had passionately listened and assured cooperation with regard to the recovery of Iranian kidnapped border guards. "Some bad boy groups have vicious plans to disturb us," he said.
Shikari said that the next meeting of the joint border commission would be held in Sistan-Balochistan on August 24 to discuss issues relating to the border. He said Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
, Governor and Chief Minister Balochistan had already been invited by the Iranian government to visit the country.