Pakistan warns of new turmoil if Iran targeted: Kasuri says US briefed
By Masood Haider
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21: Pakistan has told the United States that any military action against Iran would create unprecedented turmoil in the region and that Pakistan seeks a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri said on Tuesday.
Talking to Dawn following a half hour meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottakil on the sidelines of UN General Assembly, Mr Kasuri observed: “Pakistan has had difficult time in the past during the Afghan war and another violent action in the region would destabilize the region”.
He said: “I informed him that our position on the issue has been consistent with the non-aligned movement’s position and we want peaceful resolution of the issue.”
Mr Kasuri assured his Iranian counterpart that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Iran recalling the historical cultural and religious ties between the two countries. Besides, he noted that economic cooperation between the two countries has improved substantially.
Recalling the Taliban era when relations between Iran and Pakistan were strained, Mr Kasuri said: “We do not want to return to the time of Taliban,” adding, “we want to resolve any outstanding issues with Tehran.”
Asked whether the issue of Iranian gas pipeline issue came up in the meeting, Mr Kasuri said: “Yes we discussed the Iranian gas pipeline issue saying that the project was on track and we have had extensive talks with India on the issue.”
Speaking about his meeting with the Palestinian delegation, Mr Kasuri said that he assured them of Pakistan’s total commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state on the basis of the UN resolutions which call for withdrawal of Israel from all occupied territories.
On Wednesday Foreign Minister Kasuri had a dozen bi-lateral meetings with the heads of several delegations attending the UN General Assembly , including British foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, Abdullah Gül, Foreign Minister of Turkey, M. Morshed Khan, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
UN ADDRESS: Later in the afternoon, addressing the UN General Assembly session, Mr Kasuri told the international community that relations between India and Pakistan were improving and “there is new hope for peace and cooperation in South Asia.”
He said: “We must also give hope to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their legitimate quest for the right to self-determination.”
Paraphrasing President Musharraf, he said: “Pakistan and India must not remain trapped by hate and history in a cycle of confrontation and underscored “it is essential to find a just solution of the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir.”
He told the UN member states that ”in the spirit of constructive engagement“, Pakistan wishes to pursue the policy of multi-lateralism to strengthen the United Nations which is indispensable in an interdependent world.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21: Pakistan has told the United States that any military action against Iran would create unprecedented turmoil in the region and that Pakistan seeks a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri said on Tuesday.
