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Iran security chief in India to discuss J&K conflict
Iran's national security
chief Hassan Rowhani left Tehran for India on Monday
for talks on bilateral security issues and the conflict
between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the state news
agency IRNA reported.
During his four-day trip,
Rowhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security
Council, will meed his Indian counterpart Brajesh Mishra
as well as other high-ranking officials, including Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"Security cooperation
between our two countries was launched one year ago,
but the current sensitive circumstances require an expansion
of this cooperation," Rowhani told reporters ahead
of his departure.
"(Iran) cannot remain
indifferent towards the tension created between India
and Pakistan because insecurity will effect border countries,
including our country."
Last week, Rowhani said
Tehran was "extremely worried" about the India-Pakistan
conflict and warned against "fanning the flames
of the tension."
"The Islamic Republic
of Iran considers it its responsibility to use all of
its abilities to establish stability and reduce tension
between India and Pakistan," he was quoted as saying
during talks with Pakistan's ambassador to Tehran, Javid
Husain.
Iran supports the principle
of self-determination for Kashmir.
Tehran,
June 24, 2002 (AFP)
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