Pakistan and Iran agree to work together to improve security after airstrikes

Pakistan and Iran have agreed to work together to improve security co-operation in the wake of deadly airstrikes by Tehran and Islamabad earlier this month that killed at least 11 people.

The development came after the top Iranian diplomat, Hossein Amirabdollahian, held talks in Islamabad with his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani.

The Iranian foreign minister also met Pakistan's caretaker prime minister Anwaarulhaq-kakar.

Iran-pakistan ties worsened significantly on January 17, when

Iran launched airstrikes in Pakistan's restive southwestern Baluchistan province, targeting what Tehran said were hideouts of the anti-iran Sunni militant group Jaish aladl, or the Army of Justice.

Pakistan said two children were killed and three others were injured.

Angered over the strikes, Pakistan recalled its ambassadors from Tehran and launched air strikes against alleged militant hideouts inside Iran, in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, killing at least nine people. Islamabad said it was targetingbaluchmilitant groups with separatist goals.

At a joint news conference, Mr Amirabdollahian and Mr

Jilani said they would work through existing channels in their leadership, diplomatic and military levels to co-operate with each other.

Mr Jilani said the two countries were able to bring the "situation back to normal in the shortestpossibletime"afterthe air strikes because both sides had agreed to resume dialogue to resolve all issues.

"Terrorism poses a common challenge to our countries," Mr Jilani said, and stressed that "respect for sovereignty and territorialintegrityremainsthe immutable and foundational principle of this co-operation" between the neighbours.

He announced regular future meetings at top ministerial levels and also between liaison officers.

Mr Amirabdollahian said Pakistan and Iran will also set up free trade economic zones near the border regions to enhance their bilateral trade.

Iranandnuclear-armedpakistan have long regarded each other with suspicion over militant attacks on their sides of the border.