QUETTA, Feb 9: Balochistan Minister for Culture, Tourism and Archives Syed Sher Jan Baloch opened an Iranian cultural exhibition here on Wednesday.

The exhibition has been organized by the Iranian Culture Centre, Quetta, to mark the 26th anniversary of the Iranian revolution in 1979.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister paid tribute to the Iranian people for their struggle against a despotic ruler and for establishing an Islamic government in Iran under the leadership of the late Imam Khomeni

"Pakistan and Iran are enjoying cordial relations and are tied together in unbreakable bonds of friendship that could be strengthened further with such exhibitions," he observed. He said Pakistan and Iran had common interests in the region and both countries would work jointly to protect them.

Iranian Consul General Hussain Kashmiri said there was great potential for promotion of cooperation between Pakistan and Iran in various sectors.

"Pakistan and Iran are close and trusted friends and I want to inform the enemies of both the countries that they could never succeed in their efforts and conspiracies to create a rift between the two states," he maintained.

Iranian Culture Centre director Mehdi Rabbani and Afghan Consul General Ahmed Babak attended the ceremony.