TEHRAN – An Iranian official who has visited Islamabad has insisted that Tehran expects Pakistan to use all its efforts to help win the release of Iranian diplomat Heshmatollah Attarzadeh who was kidnapped in Peshawar in February 2008.

Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the chief of the State Audit Court, made the remarks in a meeting with Pakistan’s Senate Chairman Farooq Naik.
Farooq Naik vowed to seriously follow the issue through Pakistan’s Senate and declare the results of the investigation to the Iranian embassy in Islamabad.
Fazli also called relations between Iran and Pakistan affectionate built upon cultural and religious affinities.
Fazli also extended Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani’s invitation to Farooq Naik to visit Iran.
Farooq Naik said he considers Iran as an important country with a rich civilization.
Farooq Naik said relations between the two countries’ parliaments and governments should be expanded.
The senate chairman also invited Larijani to visit Pakistan.
Borders
Iran has expressed its dismay over the security situation in its borders with Pakistan.
Fazli insisted that common borders should be “borders of peace and security”.
Fazli also held talks with Senate deputy chairman Jan Muhammad Jamali and a number of lawmakers from Pakistan’s Baluchestan province.
Again the Iranian official insisted that Tehran expects Pakistan to use all its efforts to help free the Iranian diplomat.
Gunmen abducted Heshmatollah Attarzadeh near his home in Peshawar as he headed to work at the Iranian consulate on 13 February 2008.
Pakistan’s deputy parliament speaker, Faisal Karim Kundi, also held talks with Iran’s State Audit Court chief and the accompanying delegation on Tuesday.
Faisal Karim Kundi said Islamabad attaches great importance to its relations with Iran, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Faisal Karim Kundi said his country seeks to cement relations with Iran through an enhanced exchange of parliamentarians and people-to-people contacts