TEHRAN, Dec 26: Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami has stressed that Iran and Pakistan must strengthen ties comprehensively.

“Keeping in mind the historic record of intimate relations and friendship bonds between the Iranian and Pakistani nations that will last for good, the two governments must strengthen their political, economic, social and cultural ties,” he told newsmen at Mehrabad airport on his return from Pakistan.

The president evaluated his official visit’s outcome as “positive and fruitful”.

He said the Kashmir issue, too, had been dully addressed during his talks with Pakistan officials and hoped that the hardship suffered by the Kashmiri people would end soon.—PPI