ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Defence Committees of Pakistan and Iran have agreed to enhance mutual consultation and cooperation in the context of changes in the region, particularly in Afghanistan, which will affect both neighbours.

Chairman Senate Defence and Defence Production Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed stated this following talks with the visiting delegation from Iran's Parliament and Foreign Affairs Committee headed by Alaeddin Borojourdi on Monday.

The two committees had formal discussions at the parliament house during which there was an exchange of views on Pakistan-Iran relations particularly gas pipeline, Afghanistan, Muslim unity and the Iran nuclear programme.

Both sides also agreed on the necessity of enhancing cooperation between the defence ministries of both the countries.

Hussain thanked Iran for its generous support to Pakistan during times of trouble, particularly when Pakistan faced pressures as well as during recent floods in Sindh.

He said Pakistan have no fundamental conflict of interests and that the entire Pakistani nation was committed to building the gas pipeline with Iran since it is for peace and prosperity in the region.

Mushahid Hussain told the visiting Iranian delegation that Pakistan rejects any double standards on the nuclear issue and strongly feels that the standoff with Iran on the nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully, without threat or use of force.

The Senate defence committee supports the right of Iran to undertake nuclear research and enrichment for peaceful purposes in accordance with IAEA safeguards, said the senator.

Alaeddin Borojourdi clearly stated that Iran has no intention of building the atomic bomb but it will certainly exercise its right to do nuclear research and development for peaceful purposes.

Borojourdi also stated that Iran was committed to the gas pipeline with Pakistan and also offered to help constructing the pipeline in Pakistan as well, since, he said that the project from the Iranian side was almost completed and there would be important development on this issue when President Asif Ali Zardari will visit Tehran this week.