Pakistan says will help Iran find bomb culprits

By Augustine Anthony

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan will support Iran in tracking down those responsible for a suicide bomb attack in southeastern Iran, Pakistan's foreign minister said on Wednesday, as calls in Iran grew for the perpetrators to be punished.

Sunni Muslim rebel group Jundollah (God's soldiers) claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack that killed 42 people, including several commanders of Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

Iran says it operates from across the border in Pakistan.

The commander of the Guards' ground forces, Mohammad Pakpour, was quoted by state television as seeking permission on Tuesday to hunt terrorists inside neighbouring Pakistan.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi declined to comment on the television report and said an Iranian delegation was due in Pakistan for talks.

"We will help them and support them in unearthing the people responsible," Qureshi told Reuters by telephone. "We will sort this thing out on a government-to-government basis.

He said terrorism was a regional problem and the two countries had to help each other.

"What we are asking is that we as neighbours, as friends, as brotherly friendly countries, have to adopt a cooperative regional approach to deal with this menace," he said. "Pakistan is suffering, Pakistan is a victim of terrorism."