In a meeting with Advisor to Pakistan's Ministry for Petroleum and Natural Resources Asim Hussain, the president called for further expansion of Tehran-Islamabad cooperation in all areas.



Commenting on presence of foreign forces in the region, he said that they do not pursue establishment of regional peace and stability.



He stressed that the regional states, in particular Iran and Pakistan, should counter the influence of foreign countries through all-out cooperation.



Since foreign countries seek their own interest in the regional insecurity, they make efforts to create tension in the entire region, Ahmadinejad noted.



He voiced Iran's readiness to help Pakistan restore its stability and security.



Hussain said for his part that Tehran-Pakistan historic and profound relations are "constructive and growing".



Islamabad believes that expansion of all-out ties between the two countries would benefit both sides, he added.



A Pakistani six-member delegation, headed by Hussain, arrived in Tehran Tuesday to hold talks on the multi-billion dollars

Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.



The delegation will hold wide-ranging talks with senior Iranian officials including Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari.



The IPI project is a 2,775 km pipeline to carry Iran's natural gas to Pakistan and India. The project, estimated to be completed in three to five years time, is expected to benefit energy-starved India and Pakistan. The pipeline will be supplied from South Pars field.



The construction operation is to start in 2009 and the pipeline is expected to be completed in September 2012.

Tehran, Dec 31, IRNA