Islamabad, Pakistan: Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Muhammad Asif concluded his one-day visit of Tehran where he had important meetings with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Dr. Javad Zarif.
It may be mentioned that Kh Asif will visit Turkey on Tuesday while there is possibility of his visit to Kremlin this month.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan is taking its neighbours and friends into confidence over allegations leveled by US President Trump who accused Pakistan for housing terrorists. Pakistan has indicated that it is seriously considering for a Paradigm shift in its Foreign Policy because United States is not appreciating sacrifices Pakistan offered for regional peace and fighting against terrorism. Over 65,000 civilians and military officials lost their lives in terror attacks in Pakistan during the last 10 years. Pakistan is of the view its arch-rival India is injecting terrorism and funding Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which is executing terror attack in Pakistan while its top leadership is living in Afghanistan.
According to sources, Iran and Pakistan are on same page that problem of Afghan civil war can only be solved through political dialogue and through regional solutions and not by the trans-regional powers.
Sources say that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani during his meeting with Kh Asif indicated that Iran is (was) ready to cooperate with the regional partners including Pakistan to bargain peace in Afghanistan.
Iranian media reported on Monday evening that President Hassan Rouhani stressed that Afghan war issue can only be solved through regional solutions and not by the trans-regional powers.
FM @KhawajaMAsif calls on the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pic.twitter.com/dQ1iv4sGQ8
— M. Nafees Zakaria (@ForeignOfficePk) September 11, 2017
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Foreign Office Pakistan maintains that Foreign Minister Kh Asif said that the regional issues cannot be settled through military action.
“Resolving the regional countries’ problems needs regional solutions, especially with Iran’s partnership, and measures by the powers outside the region are not helpful”, added Kh Asif.
Pakistani Foreign Minister held detailed talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Javad Zarif on bilateral relations, border security, stability in Afghanistan, bilateral trade and possibility of a joint action against terrorists in the region.
Foreign Office of Pakistan said that Kh Asif during his meeting with his Iranian counterpart was of the view that Pakistan was committed to further strengthen relations with Iran and to work closely for promoting peace, security and development in the region.
