Iran, Pakistan share strategic views on bilateral ties - Ahmadinejad

IRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran and Pakistan stand united and share strategic views with regards to their bilateral relations.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in the Iranian capital city, Tehran, on Wednesday.

“Even if we were not neighbors and religious brothers, we should stand together, because relations and cooperation are better than confrontation and ill-wishers always exploit the divide between nations,” he added.

The Iranian president went on to say that if Tehran and Islamabad consolidate their capacities, they can overcome all obstacles and animosities and accelerate their progress.

Referring to the multi-billion-dollar Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project, Ahmadinejad said the construction of this pipeline would benefit both countries as well as other regional states.

Zardari, for his part, underlined the importance of the expansion of brotherly relations between Iran and Pakistan and noted that trust and strong ties exist between the two countries, despite efforts by those who want to obstruct cooperation between the two nations.

He said Pakistan is determined to walk the path of promoting bilateral ties, adding that consolidating the capacities of both states would serve their interests.

The Pakistani president also expressed happiness about the construction of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project and added that Islamabad supports all measures taken to complete the pipeline.

Zardari, who arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, is set to hold talks with Iranian officials on various regional and bilateral issues.

According to official sources, Zardari also plans to sign an oil refinery deal worth four billion dollars with Tehran, while also discussing the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project that will carry Iranian natural gas to its eastern neighbor.

PRESS TV