Iran, India can fill up 'power vacuum' in region: Ahmadinejad

Dubai, Jul 2 (PTI) India and Iran should come together
to fill up the "power vacuum" in the region and there is "no
limit" for promoting ties between the two countries at
bilateral, regional and global levels, President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad has said.
"Iran and India, should bolster mutual ties, making
themselves prepared for major developments worldwide and
filling up the power vacuum in the region," Ahmadinejad said
Tuesday during a meeting with the Indian National Security
Advisor M K Narayanan, who is currently visiting Tehran.
Iran and India can have helpful and constructive
cooperation in fighting drugs and terrorism, establishing the
North-South corridor and maintaining regional security, he
said, adding "there is no limit for promoting Tehran-New Delhi
ties on bilateral, regional and global levels."
He insisted on Iran-Pakistan-India cooperation on gas
transfer, saying: "The Islamic Republic of Iran insists the
gas pipeline be laid among the three countries as this will be
to the benefit of whole regional nations."
"Iran's approach to relations with India is a
long-term one and due to this reason we are eager to expand
cooperation," the Iranian leader said.
To promote regional relations and help regional
security and fraternal cooperation, Iran considers
implementation of the 'Peace Pipeline' project as an effective
and helpful step which should be finalised and made
operational as soon as possible, he said.
Narayanan expressed India's desire for expansion of
"historic and strategic" ties with Iran in different fields.
Calling the I.P.I. pipeline important for better
regional cooperation, he urged speeding up efforts to
implement the project to serve the interests of regional
nations.
Narayanan said Iran and India have had constructive
role in building great civilizations while ensuring peaceful
coexistence among followers of different religions.
Meanwhile, Iranian and Indian officials have drawn up
an action plan for security cooperation as well as creating
new opportunities for expansion of mutual and international
exchanges.
The Indian official also met Secretary of Supreme
National Security Council Saeed Jalili and told him that
Indian prime minister and government are keen to follow up all
agreements reached before during official talks, particularly
in the field of Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.
Jalili also explained the characteristics of Tehran's
package of proposals presented to the Group 5+1, noting that
Iran proposed the package for addressing concerns and
challenges in the region and the entire world.
At the end of the first round of talks between Iranian
and Indian senior security officials, both sides agreed to
explore grounds for joint regional and international
cooperation and set up a joint committee to follow up latest
and new agreements, S.N.S.C. press secretary Ahmad
Khademolmelleh said.