New Delhi: India and Iran have started talks to finalise an accord to co-operate in dealing with terrorism, drug trafficking and security issues.

The discussions were held in Tehran last weekend between a five-member Indian delegation led by Home Secretary N Gopalaswami and the Iranian side led by his counterpart Ali Asghar Ahmadi.

While both delegations discussed drafts of the agreement during the talks, the Indian side suggested that the scope of the existing joint working group on narco- trafficking be expanded to include terrorism and related issues, Gopalaswami said.

He said while extradition issue could be included in the agreement, a separate treaty would have to be signed for the purpose to give it a legal backing.

The Iranian officials pointed out that their country had been a conduit of trafficking in narcotic drugs produced in the poppy-fields of Afghanistan and had lost 3,000 soldiers in the past decade fighting the drug mafia on its borders.

They stressed the need for strengthening co-operation and exchanging information with the Indian government on the issue.

Gopalaswami said the Iranian draft was "prima facie workable" but could be finalised only after discussions with related ministries.

He said the accord could be signed either when Iranian Interior Minister Abdul Wahid Mosavi Lari arrives in New Delhi on an official visit in the next few months or when External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha visits Tehran later this year.

Besides terrorism, narco-trafficking and related issues, the draft also includes co- operation on police training and extradition.

During their three-day stay, the Indian delegation also called on the Interior Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh.

Tehran was also keen to collaborate with New Delhi on disaster management, especially to face earthquakes, and Information Technology.

PTI