Adventure against Iran will be disastrous: Aziz calls for dialogue
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Thursday a `military adventure’ against Iran would be disastrous for the region, counselling restraint and dialogue to resolve the controversy over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Addressing a conference on Asian security here, Mr Aziz said Pakistan advocated `engagement and dialogue’ to resolve international disputes.
The prime minister proposed a four-point formula to steer the countries of western Asia and North Africa (WANA) out of poverty, inequality and economic disparity. “Our greatest challenge is to ensure peace and security within and between our countries as our future prosperity depends upon ensuring a peaceful enabling environment,” Mr Aziz said at the closing session of the conference, `Voices from Asia: towards a process for cooperation and security’, at the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS).
Expanding on his formula, Mr Aziz said: “WANA need to (1) introduce broad-based reforms to ensure good governance; (2) promote dialogue to resolve disputes and ensure security; (3) develop regional economic cooperation to counter the effects of globalisation; and (4) ensure a level playing field on the basis of equality and justice.
The conference was organised by Jordan’s Majlis El-Hassan, Japan’s Sasakowa Peace Foundation and the ISS. President Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the meeting on Wednesday.
About the composite dialogue with India, the premier said the process had defused tensions.
“We continue to seek a peaceful solution to the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and have proposed several ideas to encourage a just and equitable settlement,” Mr Aziz said.
Mr Aziz said Pakistan was doing its best to fight terrorism, but it was vital to break the nexus between drugs and terrorism.
He said Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan must be `dismantled as these have become safe heavens for undesirable elements’.
Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan stressed the need for changing the `governance attitudes’ of Asian rulers by bringing about `undiluted democracy’.
