Malaysia and Thailand o­n Thursday signed a military co-operation pact aimed at tightening security along the two countries' porous border to prevent Islamic militants from operating in the region, officials said.

Najib Razak, defence minister said the countries signed an agreement detailing the various enforcement activites that would be carried out by them for 2003 to ensure security and stability at the border.

"The agreement is a manifestation of our committment to combat any form of security threats which includes terrorist activities, transnational crimes such as drug smuggling and illegal entry," he told reporters after the annual 43th Thai-Malaysian general border committee meeting.