Iran, Pakistan sign security pact

TEHRAN,Feb.20(MNA) – On Monday, Iran and Pakistan signed a security agreement aimed at boosting anti-terror cooperation. The agreement, signed in Tehran between Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik, is intended to take strict measures to combat terrorism, human and drug trafficking Malik also held a separate meeting with the Iranian president in which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the relations between Tehran and Islamabad as “brotherly.” Ahmadinejad said the agreement pertaining to security issues will serve the interests of both countries as well as the region. The Iranian president said the security issues in Iran and Pakistan have common roots and called on regional countries to establish close cooperation to resolve their problems, which are intrigued by foreign interference. He also called collaboration between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan of high importance in tackling security problems. Emphasizing that Iran will always stand by Pakistan, Ahmadinejad expressed hope that “the hands, which try to make Pakistan insecure, would be cut off.” Ahmadinejad also called mutual visits made by senior officials of the two countries “fruitful”. The Pakistani minister, for his part, expressed delight over the security agreement signed between the two countries and said that Islamabad would do its utmost to root out terrorism in Pakistan. Malik also said that the Pakistani people view their “Iranian brothers” as honest who have always helped Pakistanis at hard times.