Iran's Salehi Leaves For Islamabad

Tehran, Feb 16, IRNA – Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi left Iran for Pakistan on Wednesday night to attend a trilateral summit of Iranian, Afghan and Pakistani high-ranking officials. Salehi and his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts are expected to discuss latest regional and international developments, including the establishment of peace and security in Afghanistan. Salehi told reporters at the mausoleum of the late Imam Khomeini on the occasion of the ten-day celebrations of the 33rd victory anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that the issue of Afghan stability is to be discussed in the meeting. According to Salehi, the meeting is of prime importance for the three nations. He further hoped that the meeting would help the participating countries to achieve their desired goals. This round of the two-day summit among Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan high-ranking officials will be held in Islamabad on Thursday and Friday. Iran-Pakistan relations is developing and media outlets quoted Salehi as saying that President Ahmadinejad would participate in the trilateral summit of the Iranian, Afghan and Pakistani Presidents. During President Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit to Pakistan, several issues such as Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, providing Pakistan electricity and expansion of bilateral ties in the field of railway and air transportation is to be discussed. The Pakistani sources have said that it would be a landmark visit of the Iranian president to the country, which would add a new and historic chapter to the bilateral ties between the neighboring countries. During the visit, both countries are expected to sign some Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in trade, energy, cultural fields and bilateral co-operation in some other fields./end