TEHRAN, 23 April, 2021 (TON): Pakistan and Iran are heading towards increasing bilateral cooperation with border security and establishment of trade markets along the borders.

On a three-day visit to Iran, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, "Fraternal relations between the two countries had deepened during the visit."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani acknowledged that bilateral relation between Pakistan and Iran had improved.

A MoU has been signed between Pakistan and Iran to open trade centers in border areas.

On the other hand, Rouhani highlighted that border security remained as the prime point of concern for Pakistan and Iran, which he said "could be tackled through greater cooperation between the two neighbors".

A MoU was also signed to open the third cross-border market at Mand-Pishin border crossing point to enhance bilateral trade.

But border security and cross-border movement of terrorists has been one of the prime issues of distrust between the two countries for some time.

The 909 km-long border between Pakistan and Iran is filled with operating terror groups, criminal gangs, human traffickers and drug traffickers.

Consequently, terror attacks targeted at locals on both sides along with attacks on security forces on both sides, have kept relations between the two countries stretched.