ISLAMABAD: Spokesperson of the armed forces, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor on Monday refuted the news published by Dawn titled ‘Pak-Iran Forces jointly conduct border patrolling’. 

In a tweet on Monday, he said the news was factually incorrect. He said there was no joint patrolling held anywhere on Pakistani borders.

DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor said patrolling or operations if required were always on respective sides by respective forces through coordination.

News published by Dawn today titled “Pak-Iran Forces jointly conduct border patrolling” is factually incorrect. There is no joint patrolling anywhere on Pakistani Borders. Patrolling/ operations if required are always on respective sides by respective forces through coordination. pic.twitter.com/9MnC0lbKMT

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) December 9, 2019

Iranian Naval Commander Hossein Khanzadi called on Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad on Monday and discussed cooperation in the maritime sector.

Also Read: Pakistan, Iran agree to speed work on new border crossings

The naval chief briefed the Iranian naval commander about Indian aggression in the occupied Kashmir.

Hossein Khanzadi appreciated Pakistan Navy’s efforts for maritime peace and security.

On July 18, Pakistan and Iran had reaffirmed commitment to expedite opening new border crossing points with mutual understanding.

The resolve to this effect was expressed at second session of Pakistan-Iran Higher Border Commission held in Islamabad.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Director General (Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, and Iranian delegation was led by Director General of International Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Bagherpour Ardekani.

During the session, the two sides had held constructive discussions for effective implementation of existing border mechanisms within the relevant frameworks including Agreement for Administration of Pakistan-Iran border of 1960. They had also agreed to further strengthen mutual cooperation in these areas.

The two sides had shared the understating about their effective border management efforts through appropriate measures including physical installations such as fencing.

Both parties had emphasized the necessity of updating border maps and border pillar descriptions and carrying out joint border surveys.