Iran & Pakistan agree to reopen Zero Point, make travel very easy

By Qadeer Mengal in Taftan, Hyder Aijiz in Dalbandin

TAFTAN (Pakistan-Iran Border): The highest level of joint border commission of Pakistan and Iran had mutually agreed to allow informal trade, reopen the Zero point after 50 days and resume the Rahdari system allowing free movement of local people of the border regions to visit their close relatives on either side of the international frontier.

The Balochistan delegation was led by Mr. Nasir Mahmood Khosa, Chief Secretary of Balochistan, while all the District Coordination Officers of Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur, Washuk, Kharan, officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and FC Commandants of Kharan, Chagai, Panjgur, Kech wings of the Frontier Corps, Balochistan assisted the Chief Secretary in the deliberations which spread over to several days.

Giving full importance to relations with Iran and addressing the Iranian concerned at the highest level, the Balochistan Chief Secretary himself traveled to Iranian Balochistan and led the Pakistan delegation in the Pakistan-Iran Border Commission. He exchanged views with the Iranian officials at the highest level culminating in a broad agreement between the two countries to fight terror groups jointly and with complete determination and check drug trafficking and human smuggling.

The Balochistan delegation took up the issues with their counterparts in Iranian Balochistan providing some relief to the people of border regions allowing them to resume their informal trade, pay visits to their close relatives on other side of the international frontier, reopen the Zero Point as a strategic border market for informal trade between the Baloch people on both sides of Iran and Pakistan.

Both sides reportedly agreed to tighten the security measures restricting the movement of dubious people, mainly criminals, involved in drug trafficking or human smuggling making the border region unsafe.

One of the most important aspects was to regulate the movement of passenger and cargo training between Zahidan, capital of Iranian Balochistan and Quetta, facilitating the people traveling between the two countries, including those pilgrims paying a visit to holy places in Iran.

The border security forces on both sides of the international frontiers would cooperate and coordinate their efforts in tightening security measures wiping out the terror groups and others operating in their respective areas.

DIG Frontier Corps, Balochistan, led the team of security people in exchanging views with their counterparts during the meetings of Pakistan-Iran Border Commission.

There was jubilation in Taftan, Nokkundi and Dalbandin townships when the people heard the news that both the countries had agreed to reopen the border and resume informal trade keeping in view the hardship the people faced in the border regions.