By NNN-IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani political/defense analyst Lt Gen (Retd) Talat Masood on Thursday termed the upcoming visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki of Pakistan as important.
Talking to IRNA, he said that the visit is being carried out at a time when both the countries have been facing serious challenges from the Western countries.
Mottaki is arriving in Islamabad on Thursday evening to discuss expansion of bilateral relations with senior Pakistani officials.
He will hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on issues of mutual interest.
Talat Masood said that Pakistan has been sensitive towards Iran and always wants to help Iran in difficult periods.
He added that both the Muslim neighboring countries share strong historical cultural link. Talat Masood termed the relations of the two countries as normal and satisfactory.
The strong bilateral relations between both the countries are vital for the stability in the region.
Pakistan has been supportive to Iran on its nuclear issue.
He was of the view that in past there were ups and downs in the relations of the two countries but overall the relations remained strong.
Strong brotherly relations with Pakistan is also in interest of Iran, added Talat Masood.
He said that there are lots of challenges the two countries are facing and only through cooperation they can respond well to them.
Talat added that Iran has always been helpful and sympathetic to Pakistan in war on terror and certainly there was no threat form Iranian side.
He said that the Gas Pipeline is the key issue between the two countries, which could help Pakistan overcome its energy crises.
The project could help in sustaining more strong relations and both Pakistan and Iran must cooperate with each other on political and diplomatic level,” said Talat.
He was of the view that there is a need of Iran’s present leadership to interact with the new Pakistani leadership.
Talat Masood is a retired Lieutenant General of the Pakistan Army and a political and defense analyst.
He writes on security and political issues in national newspapers and foreign magazines and is a prominent commentator on national and international television and radio networks.
He had signed a multi million-dollar contract with UDLP as Secretary Defense Production shortly before his retirement.
He is currently a visiting fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC .