ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi arrived here on Monday to hold wide-ranging talks with Pakistani officials. He was received at the airport by Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and officials of the foreign office.

Mr Kharrazi's two-day visit is part of high-level consultations between the two countries. The Iranian foreign minister is scheduled to meet President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, besides holding formal talks with Khurshid Kasuri. Pakistan and Iran enjoy close friendly ties and economic cooperation between the two countries is progressing.

PIPELINE PROJECT: Pakistan asked India on Monday to decide whether it was ready to join a pipeline project to bring gas from Iran. At a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said that Islamabad would welcome India's participation, but added: "Iran is on board, Pakistan is on board, India has to make up its mind."

Mr Khan said that besides the gas pipeline project, Mr Kharrazi would brief Pakistani leaders on Iran's talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency and European countries on a nuclear black market once allegedly run by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. -APP/ Reuters