Ahmadinejad urges campaign for regional security

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Tehran and Islamabad should develop a joint campaign to promote regional security.

“Given the current situation, the regional countries — especially Iran and Pakistan — must devise a joint plan to provide security in the region,” said Ahmadinejad.

The Iranian president made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Pakistani National Assembly Speaker Fahmida Mirza in Tehran.

“Radicalism is a threat to all countries in the region,” Ahmadinejad said, calling for concerted cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad to settle such problems.

He added that Iran and Pakistan need to expand relations in all areas.

President Ahmadinejad said that certain countries are unhappy about “the brotherly ties between Tehran and Islamabad.”

Mirza, for her part, said that her country considered expansion of its ties with Iran as “a necessity” for Pakistan.

She noted that Tehran and Islamabad have similar stances regarding many international issues. The Pakistani speaker said that her country has always supported Iran’s civilian nuclear program.