ISLAMABAD: Iran has assured Pakistan of cooperation on matters relating to security and development.

The assurance was given by Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Hoonardoost during a meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan at the Punjab House here on Friday.

Matters discussed at the meeting included Pakistan’s plea for Iranian help in the light of revelations made by the arrested RAW agent, Kulbhushan Jadhav, relations between the two countries and President Hassan Rouhani’s recent visit to Pakistan.

Two days ago, Pakistan approached Iran through diplomatic channels to arrest and hand over for interrogation a RAW agent who was reported to be assisting the arrested spy under the cover of running a jewellery business in Iran.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over the Iranian president’s visit. “The momentum created by the visit should be utilised to further strengthen Pak-Iran relations in all possible areas. We need to build on the gains of the past and work together to overcome our shared challenges for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries,” said the interior minister. “Pakistan and Iran are tied in decades’ long religious, social, cultural and political bonds and nothing can come in the way of these brotherly relations,” he added.

The Iranian ambassador said that relations between the two countries should result in tangible improvements in trade and implementation of development projects. “We have to remove the impediments to further strengthen our bilateral relations,” he observed.

Chaudhry Nisar said the joint stance of the two countries on various regional issues at international forums would foil the designs of their enemies.

Ambassador Hoonardoost criticised what he termed attempts in some sections of the media to adversely affect relations between the two countries despite the “hugely successful” visit of the Iranian president.

The interior minister said the Pakistani media was independent, but that did not mean “we will allow anyone to affect our relations”. He said that all sections of Pakistani society unanimously support stronger Pak-Iran relations.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2016