Unity Among Muslim Nations Thorn In Arrogant Powers' Eyes: Official

Zahedan, Jan 14, IRNA – Unity among Muslim nations and governments is a thorn in the arrogant powers' eyes, Governor General of Sistan and Baluchestan Hatam Narouei said on Sunday. He made the remarks in a meeting with Pakistan's Consul General to Zahedan Taher Mahmoud Qureishi. Condoling with the family of the recent terrorist attacks in the Pakistani city of Quetta which resulted in the death of 129 citizens and injury of many more others, he noted that such actions are parts of desperate conspiracies of enemies of Muslim Ummah which aim to divide followers of various factions of Islam. The Iranian provincial official called on Tehran and Islamabad to utilize all their potentials to establish peace and tranquility in the region. The Pakistani consul general, for his part, thanked the Iranian governor-general for sympathizing with the Pakistani people, and said, 'Pakistan considers Iran as a pivot of stability and calm in the region, which is vitally important for Pakistan.' 'Enemy plots for dividing Muslims are doomed to failure; Iran and Pakistan should do their best to increase cooperation in various fields including the sociocultural fields; close cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad will enhance their position in the Muslim world.' He underlined that those who provoke unrest and are behind these terrorist operations are not Muslims because such brutal actions are against Islamic teachings. A total of 129 people were killed and 280 wounded in three bomb attacks across Pakistan on Thursday. The blasts targeted Shiite Muslims in a crowded billiards hall in the western city of Quetta. Iran and Pakistan have always had very close and intimate relations throughout the history. The two countries exchange delegations on a regular basis and their leaders are resolved to further accelerate expansion of ties and cooperation between the two neighboring nations./end