ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: Iran has assured Pakistan full support on all issues including a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute, says a message received here from Tehran.

During a meeting of the Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri who called on the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Syed Mohammad Khatami in Tehran, the Iranian President assured the visiting Foreign Minister of Pakistan that the people and the government of Iran want to further strengthen the brotherly and friendly relationship with the people and the government of Pakistan.

He said Iran wishes the resolution of Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan and added that Pakistan and Iran would continue to cooperate on all international issues including Afghanistan and Iraq.

Expressing feelings of goodwill for President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, President Khatami said, Iran greatly appreciates the steps taken by Pakistan's leadership to improve the security environment of the region.

Reciprocating the feelings of goodwill on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan to the people and the government of Iran, Mr Kasuri apprised the President of Iran about the outcome of bilateral talks he held with the Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi.

The two neighbouring Muslim states are now all set to move ahead and consolidate their relationship in all fields. He informed the Iranian president that the officials of the two countries are working out modalities to implement the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Iran and Pakistan and hoped that it would pave the way for lowering tariffs and further expand trade between the two countries much higher than the present level of US$350 million.

Foreign Minister Kasuri also informed the President of Iran that Pakistan has assured India it would provide international guarantees for the Iran-India gas pipeline transiting through Pakistan. -APP