December 24, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 19, 1423

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LAHORE, Dec 23: Pakistan-Iran friendship has withstood the test of time and would get strengthened with the passage of time, so said Ali Naimiti, Iranian counsel-general in Lahore.

Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, he said the past misunderstandings would be cleared with President Khatami’s visit. Dilating upon the misunderstandings, he said some agent provocateurs had tried to create them and killed even a diplomat, but now both leaders were ready to bury the past and build on common respect and interest.

Mr Naimiti praised the rich cultural heritage of Lahore and cited it as one of the reasons why President Khatami selected it as part of his visit.

The focus of the Iranian president’s visit is trade and cultural ties, and three agreements and two memorandum of understandings will be signed during the visit. He said no defence pact was included in the tour programme.

When reminded about the warm nature of Indo-Iranian ties, the counsel-general said those were not at the cost of any other country. Pakistan-Iranian relations, he said, had an independent basis rooted in history, common religion and regional strategic preferences. Iran was concerned about Indo-Pakistan tension and, if allowed, could play its due role to reduce the same. But its ties with one country would not affect its relations with the other.

About the Afghan policy, he said the Iranian policy had not changed after Sept 11. It had an element of consistency for the last many years, and it would continue pursuing the same. Pakistan and Iran both shared a vision about the future of Afghanistan which was peace and reconstruction.