Iran, Pakistan discuss bilateral cooperation

Islamabad, July 22, IRNA - Visiting caretaker of Iran's Interior Ministry, Mehdi Hashemi, on Tuesday discussed bilateral cooperation with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Hashemi arrived in Islamabad for an official visit on Monday at the head of a delegation to hold separate meetings with senior Pakistaniofficials.

Referring to Tehran-Islamabad good relations, the two stressed the need for further cooperation in the fields of economic, trade,cultural, tourism and security activities.

Noting that Iran and Pakistan share hundreds of kilometers of joint borders, they stressed the need for strengthening cooperation between Iranian and Pakistani border areas including for the extradition ofcriminals.

Hashemi had earlier announced in Tehran that he would visit Islamabad to follow up the case of some 15 Iranian policemen who were taken hostage by notorious armed bandits in southeastern Iran and then weretransferred to Pakistan.

In addition to his meeting with the Pakistani prime minister, Hashemiis expected to hold talks with his counterpart Rehman Malik.

Meanwhile, Gilani expressed hope that the visits to Pakistan of Iranian officials would pave the way for deeper relations between thetwo capitals.