Islamabad (Pakistan): Iran's first Vice President Parviz Dawoudi arrived in Pakistan on Thursday for talks on the controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear programme as well as a range of bilateral issues concerning the two neighbours, an official said.
Dawoudi, one of two Iranian presidential deputies, and Iran's foreign minister are scheduled to meet Thursday with Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam.
"The two sides are to discuss regional and international issues, such as boosting trade, but they'll also speak about Iran's nuclear issue," she said.
The Iranians are due to leave on Friday.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan is an ally of the United States, which accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran says its nuclear programme is for power generation only.
Pakistan has repeatedly said the standoff over Iran's nuclear issue must be resolved peacefully, saying it opposes imposing sanctions on Iran or using any military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met Thursday with Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon and discussed a proposed pipeline project for delivering Iranian gas to Pakistan and neighboring India, officials said.
Pakistan has said that it will build the pipeline with Iran despite US opposition to the project stemming from its spat with Tehran.
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