ISLAMABAD -- Closer relations between Iran and Pakistan are crucial to maintain peace and stability in the region, said one of the top Pakistani defense analysts here.

Former chief of army staff General (retd.) Mirza Aslam Beg told IRNA in an interview that the upcoming visit of Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami to Pakistan will be of great importance for both the countries.

"President Khatami is visiting Pakistan at a time when the U.S. has completed preparations to launch military operation against Iraq," he pointed out.

In the given situation, he was of the view that close interaction and mutual cooperation was of paramount value for the two brotherly nations as well as the entire region. "President Khatami's talks with Pakistani leadership will enable both sides to develop mutual understanding on important issues," General Beg said.

He said that Khatami's visit will not only help both sides to remove misunderstanding, if any, and also ponder over ways and means to further cement the existing bilateral relations.

General Beg maintained during the recent Afghan crisis, there was not so much coordination between Tehran and Islamabad." the present situation, arising out of what appears to be imminent U.S. attack on Iraq, underlines need for both sides to come up with a collective stand on the issue," he opined.

When asked to comment on prospects of bilateral cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in defense field, he said, "Let us first sit together and evolve common viewpoint on issues, concerning both the countries".

To a question about U.S. war threats to Iraq, General Beg said that what exactly were America's designs behind the entire moves is more than evident. "The U.S. wants to achieve its objectives, partly by removing President Saddam Hussein from power and deal with other states in the region".

The presence of 0.25 million U.S. forces in the region, he pointed out, is not only aimed at targeting Iraq but also to increase pressure on Iran and other countries in that part of the world.

It is high time, he added, for the Muslim countries to come out of slumber and collectively review the prevailing scene vis-a-vis security of the Islamic world and ponder over a common line of action thereon.