Islamabad, Sep 29 (IANS) Pakistan and Iran have vowed to work together for regional peace and stability besides agreeing to cooperate on security and border management.
Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar met his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik here Wednesday, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.
Najjar said Iran would continue to partner with Pakistan to overcome existing challenges faced by the two countries.
The meeting took place amid strained US-Pakistan ties over an American accusation that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) supported the Al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network.
Pakistan is reaching out to its other allies after its relationship with the US deteriorated.
ISI chief Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha left for Saudi Arabia Monday while Chinese Vice Premier Meng Jianzhu came to Islamabad on a two-day visit. Meng’s Pakistan visit was significant since he holds charge of the powerful public security portfolio.
Rehman Malik said Pakistan and Iran had discussed matters of mutual interest and agreed to cooperate with each for border management.
Both Pakistan and Iran want peace in the region and have decided to work for that, he said.
He said Iran would donate $100 million to assist flood-affected people of Pakistan.
The devastating floods in Pakistan’s Sindh province had impacted over eight million people.
Najjar said visits of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to Iran were a turning point for boosting relations between the two countries.
He said Iran would assist Pakistan in the power and gas sectors.
The two countries, he said, would also cooperate with each other on issues of smuggling and money laundering and soon sign an agreement for that purpose.
