Interior Minister: Iran to Continue Support for Pakistani People

Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar reiterated that Tehran will continue supporting Pakistan in a bid to help the Muslim neighboring nation overcome its problems.

Najjar made the remarks in a brief meeting with Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Narcotics Control Javed Iqbal upon arrival at Islamabad Chaklala Airport on Monday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has sought to lead the way in resolving the problems of the Pakistani people, and as an ally Muslim country, we will continue to support this friendly state,” Mohammad Najjar said.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari had earlier this month invited Iran to participate in the conference on counter-narcotics.

Ministers from twelve regional countries would participate in the Regional Ministerial Conference on Counter-narcotics.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan have been invited to the conference.

Iran, located at the crossroad of international drug smuggling from Afghanistan to Europe, leads international efforts in fighting drug networks and narcotic traffickers.

The Iranian police measures along the country’s Eastern borders have forced drug-traffickers to resort to other routes, including the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf, to smuggle their drug cargos which originate in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to the statistical figures released by the UN, Iran ranks first among the world countries in preventing entry of drugs and decreasing demand for narcotics.

The anti-drug squads of the Iranian Law Enforcement Police have intensified their countrywide campaign against drug-trafficking through staging long-term systematic operations since last two years.