Pakistan-Iran
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan accords great importance to its relations with brotherly Muslim country of Iran and present government will do its utmost to further strengthen the strong ties between two countries.

The Prime Minister said this while talking to caretaker Iranian Interior Minister Mehdi Hashemi who called on him at PM's House on Tuesday, a statement said.

The Prime Minster said that the relationship of the two countries is based on deep emotions and religious ties.

He said that Pakistan values its good neighbourly relations with Iran, which are rooted in many commonalities of history, faith and culture.

The Prime Minister said that terrorism has emerged as most defining threat to the humanity and to the peace and stability of the region.

Pakistan has come a long way in fighting the menace of terrorism.

He emphasised the need of increasing bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring countries to fight terrorism in a more effective manner.

The Prime Minister said that cooperation between the two countries in the fields of culture, economy, law & order must be enhanced and smuggling must be eradicated.

He said that smuggling can be stopped if the trade is regulated between the two countries.

The Iranian side included Mohtaj, Deputy Minister for Interior and Mashallah Shakri, Ambassador of Iran, and Rehman Malik, Advisor to Pakistan PM on Interior and also attended the meeting.