President: Iran-Pakistan Ties Strong, Stable, Progressive

Tehran, Feb 19, IRNA – IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here Monday relations of Iran and Pakistan are excellent, brotherly and ever progressive and they have recently grown noticeably in bartered commerce field. President Ahmadinejad made the comment in a meeting with the visiting Pakistani Interior Minister Rahman Malek, adding that signing the Iran-Pakistan Security Cooperation Pact is to the benefit of both countries, as well as the region. He added, ˈIran and Pakistan have brotherly and deep-rooted relations with each other, and it is this feeling of brotherhood and closeness between the two nations that has led to the close relations between Tehran and Islamabad.ˈ The president referred to the existence of shared security problems for Iran and Pakistan, reiterating, ˈThe regional problems are due to the interference of the aliens and the way to solve them is necessarily close cooperation among the regional countries, and in this field, cooperation among Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan is of great importance.ˈ He emphasized that Iran would remain by the side of Pakistan for good, he said, ˈI hope the hands that are involved in making Pakistan insecure would be severed and by grace of Almighty Allah this prayer would come true, by His grace.ˈ The president pointed out that reciprocal visits of the two countriesˈ presidents and high ranking officials have always been beneficial and fruitful, adding, ˈFortunately today there is a good amount of cooperation in the economic field, including the contract for transferring gas and electricity from Iran to Pakistan, which we hope this energy would be at the service of progress and well-being of our friend, neighboring country.ˈ Pakistanˈs Interior Minister Rahman Malek, too, in the meeting expressing satisfaction over the signing of the bilateral security pact reiterated, ˈPakistan spends it entire efforts to uproot the terrorist and inhumane grouplets in its soil.ˈ Rahman Malek reiterated, ˈThe Pakistani nationˈs viewpoint about Iran differs with that of the other nations, as they truly believe Iranˈs claim of being our friend and brother nation, having felt that the Iranians have always rushed to help us at sensitive times of need.ˈ He pointed out that today terrorism on the one hand, and the attacks of the US drones on the other hand are the major concern and worry for the Pakistani nation and government, emphasizing, ˈRegional peace cannot be achieved unless the regional countries would cooperate in that respect, and particularly if Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan would closely cooperate in security field.ˈ Earlier in the day the Pakistani interior minister met, conferred and signed the historical Iran-Pakistan Security Pact with his Iranian counterpart./end