"We do have information on certain movements along our long borders, with some trying to create insecurity, and we cannot believe these are unprovoked and accidental," Khamenei said in comments carried by Iranian media. "America, whose wickedness is known to all, is among the governments trying to make distance between Iran and Pakistan. Besides America, there are other governments at work too."
Khamenei was referring to a recent spate of kidnappings and cross-border raids in Iran's easternmost province of Sistan-Balochistan that have generally been claimed by Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) rebels. On his first official visit to Iran since his election as prime minister last May, Sharif has pressed for steps to boost bilateral trade. "We hope to see during your tenure a good movement in bilateral relations. One must not wait for permission from others to develop relations," Khamenei told Sharif, in apparent reference to the United States. Meeting Sharif on Sunday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged Pakistan to expedite construction of its part of a $7.5-billion natural gas pipeline from Iran to South Asia.