ISLAMABAD, Nov 08 (INP): Iranian scholar Dr. Saadullah Zarei has said that Iran has always supported Pakistan against India. Pakistan and Iran wants peace and development in Afghanistan. He was addressing the round-table conference on ‘Iranian Perspective on Iran-Pakistan Relations and Regional Security’ organized by Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) here in Islamabad on Wednesday. Chairman Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) and former Ambassador of Pakistan to Iran Ambassador Khalid Mahmood chaired the conference. Executive Director of Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi hosted the key speakers. Iranian scholar Dr. Saadullah Zarei said that Pakistan and Iran along with China, Russia and Turkey wants peace and development in Afghanistan and want to play their positive role for its development. Talking about Iranian prospective regarding Pakistan Dr. Saadullah Zarei although Iran has good relations with India but it has also supported Pakistan against India on international level. “Being Muslim country Iran has strong relations with Pakistan over India,” he added. Answering a question Dr. Saadullah Zarei said that Iran don’t want Pakistan to limit its relations with Saudia Arabia whereas Iran wants more strong relations between them, as regional cooperation is very important for the security. Defining the security Dr. Saadullah Zarei said that meaning of security is changed now. In the past meaning of security was to protect yourself against your enemy but now security is more like cooperation. A county has more cooperation with other countries is more secured. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood in his address said that we can’t forget the support from Iran at the time of need in 1965 and 1971. “Pakistan and Iran always has positive relation and both countries are supporting each other on all the levels,” he added. He said Pakistan-Iran relations were not even effected with Pakistan was supporting Taliban whereas Iran was against them. “External factors have effected Pakistan-Iran relations, US, India and Israel alliance is always against Pakistan and Iran,” he said. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood appreciated the support from Iran on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Earlier in his welcome remarks Executive Director of Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi said that Iran was the first country to recognize the Pakistan’s statehood in 1947. Although the present time is very different and the domestic political systems have changed considerably, with Iran having undergone a revolution and Pakistan through many transitions, the relations between the two states have survived the test of time. Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi said that the two countries need to develop their communication links of road, rail and air, to promote greater interaction and resultant economic activity. This will also stimulate people to people contact at various levels. He thanks the key speakers and the participants for their participation. INP/OBD/AJ