Islamabad, Dec 8, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met his Tajik counterpart Sirodjidin Aslov here on Tuesday.

Zarif, who arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday to attend conference Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process with the mission to help settle Afghanistan's problems, in the meeting with Aslov conferred on issues of mutual interest.

The two sides underlined necessity to strengthen regional cooperation with the aim to promote security and stability levels and the effective fight against ominous phenomena of extremism and terrorism.

Zarif welcomed exchange of officials between the two countries and said Iran is ready to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of fight against terrorism, extremism and drug traffics.

Aslov said that Iran is one of the important countries in the region and that by holding joint economic commission in Dushanbe, the ground for development of ties will be prepared.

'We support Iran's membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization,' he added.

The 2-day conference (ministerial level) is to open on Wednesday and representatives from more than 40 member and supporter countries as well as more than 10 international and regional bodies.

Foreign Ministers of Iran, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are attending the conference.

Representatives from Russia as well as a US deputy secretary of state are also participating in the event.

Heart of Asia has 14 member states including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Russia, India, Azerbaijan Republic, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The supporter countries include the US, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Britain.

Because Turkey was one of initiators of the conference, the conference is also known as Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process.

By IRNA