TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a telephone call with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif demanded “serious and swift action” by Pakistan to secure the release of the abducted guards.

“We expect to hear good news in this regard,” he said, while calling for “joint action by both countries against terrorists”, the official Irna news agency reported.

Mr Sharif said the issue was of “utmost importance” to his government and that he was “prepared to boost action to free the soldiers”.—AFP