Pakistan-Iran border re-opens

Pakistan-Iran border was reopened for local trade on Monday more than four months after it had been closed because of a bomb attack in southeastern Iran that killed 42 people. Among the dead were 15 Iranian Revolutionary Guards and senior officials, including deputy Commander of Iranian border security force.

Pakistani and Iranian officials, including administration of border districts, held negotiations last week, discussing possibility of re-opening the border for local trade and restoration of permits for travel. The meeting took place at the border town of Taftan on Pakistani side. As a result, parties agreed to step up the border security and re-open the frontier.

"It has been re-opened and security has been enhanced on both sides to check illegal crossborder movements and drug smuggling," Reuters quoted provincial interior secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani.