TEHRAN -- Iran and Pakistan should double their efforts to promote peace and stability in regional countries particularly Afghanistan, the director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Expediency Council Hassan Rowhani said here Tuesday.

In a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tehran Shafqat Saeed, Rowhani said that the two countries “enjoy deep cultural and historical affinities and have great potential for expansion of bilateral cooperation.”

The two countries can cooperate on areas like combating extremism and promoting moderation and correct Islamic beliefs, said Rowhani who also serves as the Supreme Leader’s representative at the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

Due to their long common borders, Iran and Pakistan should prioritize cooperation on promoting border security and fighting bandits and terrorist groups, he added.

He said that the presence of the foreign troops is the main reason for insecurity in the region, he noted.

The Pakistani envoy welcomed Iran’s proposal to cooperate on combating extremism in the country.

“Over the past years, the issues of Afghanistan have inflicted many damages on Pakistan and Islamabad’s policy toward Kabul is to help establish security and stability in the country,” Saeed said.

Bilateral and multilateral consultations are necessary for promoting border security especially for the planned Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.

In addition, he said that Pakistan believes that the only legal body for addressing Iran’s nuclear dossier is the International Atomic Energy Agency.