Iran, Pakistan two friendly countries: Ahmadinejad

Tehran, Dec 31, IRNA - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday evening that Iran and
Pakistan are two friendly countries whose fate in the region are
inter-related.

In a meeting with Advisor to Pakistan's Ministry for Petroleum and
Natural Resources Asim Hussain, the president called for further
expansion of Tehran-Islamabad cooperation in all areas.

Commenting on presence of foreign forces in the region, he said that
they do not pursue establishment of regional peace and stability.

He stressed that the regional states, in particular Iran and Pakistan,
should counter the influence of foreign countries through all-out
cooperation.

Since foreign countries seek their own interest in the regional
insecurity, they make efforts to create tension in the entire region,
Ahmadinejad noted.

He voiced Iran's readiness to help Pakistan restore its stability and
security.

Hussain said for his part that Tehran-Pakistan historic and profound
relations are "constructive and growing".

Islamabad believes that expansion of all-out ties between the two
countries would benefit both sides, he added.

A Pakistani six-member delegation, headed by Hussain, arrived in
Tehran Tuesday to hold talks on the multi-billion dollars
Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

The delegation will hold wide-ranging talks with senior Iranian
officials including Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari.

The IPI project is a 2,775 km pipeline to carry Iran's natural gas to
Pakistan and India. The project, estimated to be completed in three to
five years time, is expected to benefit energy-starved India and
Pakistan. The pipeline will be supplied from South Pars field.

The construction operation is to start in 2009 and the pipeline is
expected to be completed in September 2012.