June 25, 2002	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1423

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TEHRAN, June 24: Iran’s national security chief Hassan Rowhani left Tehran for India on Monday for talks on bilateral security issues and also the Kashmir dispute.

During his trip, Rowhani, the secretary of Iran’s national security council, will meet his Indian counterpart Brajesh Mishra as well as other high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

“Security cooperation between our two countries was launched one year ago, but the current sensitive circumstances require an expansion of this cooperation,” Rowhani told reporters before his departure.

“(Iran) cannot remain indifferent towards the tension created between India and Pakistan because insecurity will affect border countries, including our country.”

Last week, Rowhani said Tehran was “extremely worried” about the India-Pakistan conflict and warned against “fanning the flames of the tension”.—AFP