ISLAMABAD, August 25, SPA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki phoned Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and discussed with him issues of mutual interest including strengthening of bilateral relations, said a statement of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry. Mottaki expressed gratitude to the government of Pakistan for its swift and effective action for the release of 21 Iranian nationals taken hostage by armed bandits in the Seistan Balochistan Province of Iran and taken to Pakistani territory on August 19. The hostages were freed by Pakistani authorities the very next day and were flown back to Iran from Quetta. The two foreign ministers also exchanged views about the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline and expressed the hope that the project which was of strategic importance would be concluded soon.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/477335