ISLAMABAD: Iran’s top security official Ali Shamkhani is due here on Wednesday for talks with Pakistani leadership on security cooperation and border issues, a diplomatic source said.

Mr Shamkhani, who is the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, would meet Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and the newly-appointed National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua.

The Iranian side also wants to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, but it is not clear if the two would be available for the meeting.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council is responsible for the Gulf country’s defence and security policies.

Shamkhani is an influential figure in Tehran for being close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

According to a source, Mr Shamkhani’s agenda for the trip includes border security, intelligence-sharing, security cooperation and exploring the prospects of bilateral cooperation after the nuclear-related sanctions are lifted.

He had earlier this year offered cooperation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries for counter-terrorism.

Another source said that Shamkhani, who is a former navy rear admiral and ex-defence minister, is also expected to discuss the presence of Daesh (the self-styled Islamic State) in the region.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2015

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