Iran President Underlines Enhancement Of Ties With Pakistan

Tehran, Dec 3, IRNA -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed hope that the level of economic and trade cooperation between Iran and Pakistan will reach a point that two countries will account for major part of each other's needs in view of allout expansion of bilateral ties. Speaking in a meeting with Pakistan's Oil and Natural Resources Minister Assem Hussein in Tehran on Sunday, the Iranian president said Iran does not face any restriction for enhancement of ties with Pakistan and it believes that the more the two countries' ties are upgraded, it will be further beneficial to both countries. Ahmadinejad underlined the importance of mutual cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad. He welcomed the resumption of construction of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, and expressed hope that this project will be implemented as soon as possible in order to serve the interests and welfare of the two countries. Last month, a delegation of Iranian oil industry experts left for Islamabad in a bid to sign an agreement on Iran's investment in the construction of a pipeline project which is due to take the country's rich gas reserves to energy-hungry Pakistan. The Pakistani government has on many occasions reiterated its resolve to push ahead with the $1.5 billion Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project. According to the project proposal, the pipeline will begin from Iran's Assalouyeh Energy Zone in the south and stretch over 1,100 km through Iran. In Pakistan, it will pass through Baluchistan and Sindh but officials now say the route may be changed if China agrees to the project./end