TEHRAN – Defense Minister Amir Hatami on Wednesday called for closer defense cooperation with Pakistan, expressing the hope that during the rule of the new Pakistani prime minister Iran and Pakistan would be able to make up for the past shortcomings in ties, Mehr reported.

Hatami made the remarks in a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, Pervez Khattak. He voiced confidence that Pakistan, as a major country in the Muslim world, would continue to play a positive role in line with the interests of the Islamic Ummah.

Khattak, for his part, highlighted the need for expansion of relations between the two countries and help establish stability in the region.

MH/PA