Iran urges Pakistan to take 'decisive action' against militants
Iran has urged Islamabad to take action against militant groups based in Pakistan.
2 min read
Rouhani spoke to Pakistan's prime minister by phone on Saturday [Getty]
Iran's president urged Islamabad on Saturday to take "decisive action" against militants based on its soil, following a deadly attack last month by Pakistan-based fighters on Iranian troops.
Hassan Rouhani warned Pakistan's prime minister that a failure to clampdown on militants in the country could see relations between Tehran and Islamabad badly damaged.
"We are awaiting your decisive operations against these terrorists," Rouhani told Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan during a phone conversation, according to Iranian state media.
"We should not allow decades of friendship and fraternity between the two countries to be affected by the actions of small terrorist groups, the source of whose financing and arms is known to both of us."
Khan reportedly told Rouhani that he has "good news" for Iran on the subject, Reuters reported.
"It is in Pakistan’s own interest not to allow our territory to be used by terrorist groups, and the Pakistani army is prepared to confront the terrorists more decisively with the information provided by Iran," Khan responded.
It follows a deadly attack by a Pakistan-based Sunni-Baluchi militant group on Iranian Revolutionary Guards in February, killing 27 troops.
Iran directed a number of verbal barbs and threats at Pakistan following the killings, whilst also blaming regional rivals Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have already warned that they are "ready to give a decisive answer to the terrorists in coordination with Islamabad".
Pakistan newspaper DAWN reported that during the conversation Rouhani and Khan both agreed to improve bi-lateral ties and paved the way for a visit by the Pakistani premier to Iran soon.
"Both sides look forward to the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Iran in the near future," a statement from the prime minister's office reported.
"Both leaders agreed on the need for closer cooperation among the two intelligence agencies in combating terrorism."
Pakistan has also fought a number of clashes with neighbour India in recent weeks, following Indian air strikes.
India said it launched air strikes on militant bases in Pakistan, following an attack on its troops in the disputed region of Kashmir last month, which killed dozens of Indian troops.
Hassan Rouhani warned Pakistan's prime minister that a failure to clampdown on militants in the country could see relations between Tehran and Islamabad badly damaged.
"We are awaiting your decisive operations against these terrorists," Rouhani told Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan during a phone conversation, according to Iranian state media.
"We should not allow decades of friendship and fraternity between the two countries to be affected by the actions of small terrorist groups, the source of whose financing and arms is known to both of us."
Khan reportedly told Rouhani that he has "good news" for Iran on the subject, Reuters reported.
"It is in Pakistan’s own interest not to allow our territory to be used by terrorist groups, and the Pakistani army is prepared to confront the terrorists more decisively with the information provided by Iran," Khan responded.
It follows a deadly attack by a Pakistan-based Sunni-Baluchi militant group on Iranian Revolutionary Guards in February, killing 27 troops.
Iran directed a number of verbal barbs and threats at Pakistan following the killings, whilst also blaming regional rivals Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have already warned that they are "ready to give a decisive answer to the terrorists in coordination with Islamabad".
Pakistan newspaper DAWN reported that during the conversation Rouhani and Khan both agreed to improve bi-lateral ties and paved the way for a visit by the Pakistani premier to Iran soon.
"Both sides look forward to the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Iran in the near future," a statement from the prime minister's office reported.
"Both leaders agreed on the need for closer cooperation among the two intelligence agencies in combating terrorism."
Pakistan has also fought a number of clashes with neighbour India in recent weeks, following Indian air strikes.
India said it launched air strikes on militant bases in Pakistan, following an attack on its troops in the disputed region of Kashmir last month, which killed dozens of Indian troops.
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