Islamabad voices against UN resolution on Iran
Kasuri, Muttaki agree to quickly finalize IPI gas pricing

TEHRAN—Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said on Wednesday that any anti-Iran resolution by the United Nations against Iranian nuclear program is detrimental to the entire region and the Muslim World.
In a meeting with Chairman of Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Kasuri said that Iran plays a significant role in maintaining peace and security in the Middle East.
On Tehran-Islamabad cooperation, Kasuri said that the two countries are expected to develop cooperation as members of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Group of Eight developing Islamic nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and other regional organization.
He said that cooperation between the two nations would serve the national interest of both the Muslim nations. Rafsanjani said, for his part, that cooperation between Iran and Pakistan would be useful for the establishment of peace and security in Afghanistan and Iraq adding that neither Afghanistan nor Iraq needs foreign troops. Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to speed up efforts to finalize the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) Gas Pipeline Project and coordinate activities for the reconstruction in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister, Khurshid M. Kasuri held formal talks with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki here Wednesday and exchanged views on bilateral, regional and international issues. The talks were preceded by a brief one to one meeting between the two Foreign Ministers. During the talks between the two Foreign Ministers, they reviewed various aspects of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations and expressed their resolve to further consolidate political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.
They also expressed their resolve to continue their efforts against terrorism and organized crime. Referring to the IPI gas pipeline project, Foreign Minister Kasuri stated that implementation of the gas pipeline project will bring Pakistan and Iran closer and will vest the friendly relationship between the two countries with economic content. He reiterated Pakistan’s determination for the implementation of the project. Foreign Minister Kasuri underlined that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Iran which were rooted i n common culture, religion and a shared view of a number of regional and international issues.
The leadership of the two countries has been exchanging views on all matters of regional and international interest. The frequency of high level visits between the two countries marks the depth and strength of relationship between Iran and Pakistan, he said. On Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister underlined that peace and stability in Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan as well as the entire region and called for closer Pakistan-Iran cooperation in this regard.
He pointed out that Pakistan and Iran, being the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan could play an important role along with the international community in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Iranian Foreign Minister referred to the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between the two countries and expressed Iran’s keenness to further promote these relations particularly in the field of economic and trade. Foreign Minister Mottaki expressed his satisfaction over the exchange of visits at various levels over the past few months emphasizing that such visits make an important contribution towards further expanding relations between the two neighbouring states. Second round of talks will be held tomorrow. Later in the day, the Foreign Minister called on Chairman Expediency Council Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani.
During the meeting the Foreign Minister highlighted the abiding bonds of friendship between the governments and the peoples of Iran and Pakistan, underlining that close cooperation between the two countries can contribute towards the establishment of peace and stability in the region.—Agencies