Iran's Velayati Arrives In Pakistan

Islamabad, Jan 30, IRNA – Secretary General of World Assembly for Islamic Awakening (WAIA) Ali Akbar Velayati heading a delegation arrived in Islamabad airport on Wednesday morning. He told IRNA at the airport that his visit to Pakistan aims to meet with a number of senior officials of the country as well as with Shia and Sunni religious scholars. He added that WAIA is a democratic world Islamic body, which tries to expose enemiesˈ goals against Muslims and is following the same ideals as Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei is pursuing. Senior advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in international affairs called mutual relations between Iran and Pakistan very close and brotherly. He added that the two nations have many commonalities in history, religion, culture and tradition and have had similar situation during history of Islam in Iran and Indian sub-continent. Velayati said that his meetings aim to strengthen solidarity among elites and scholars of the two countries, who are known symbols of common culture of Iran and Pakistan. He expressed hope that such visits would bring more solidarity between the two nations. Velayati is to meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday morning. He is to meet with Pakistan Senate President Seyed Nayyer Hussein Bokhari, too. WAIA secretary general delivers a speech in a conference on Thursday in the city of Lahore. On Friday, Velayati travels to Karachi and meets with a number of officials and religious and political groups there. The Iranian delegation has a meeting with senior officials and religious, political groups in Quetta city on Saturday./end