March 16, 2007	Friday	Safar 26, 1428

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

PESHAWAR, March 15: Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said coordinated and joint efforts by Pakistan and Iran can help resolve the Afghanistan issue and stop “outsiders” from materialising their interests in the region.

He was talking to Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Masha Allah Shakeri, who called on him at the Frontier House here on Thursday. Mr Shakeri was accompanied by Iranian Consul-General in Peshawar Mohammad Eghbal Ali Asghari.

“Non-stop violence in Afghanistan is a clear evidence of the fact that use of force cannot bring normalcy to the war-ravaged country. It is a high time for the international community to choose the path of negotiation and dialogue, otherwise there is no hope for peace in the neighbouring country,” Mr Durrani maintained.

He said Pakistan and Iran were enjoying cordial relations and the people of the two countries were tied by unbreakable religious, cultural and political bonds. Development or destruction of one country would have a direct bearing on the other, he added.

Mr Durrani said that in the prevailing circumstances, strong and friendly relationship between the two countries was the need of the hour. He said the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project was in the larger interest of the three countries and it would bring about positive changes in the lifestyle of the people of Pakistan.

He stressed the need for joint efforts to banish the doubts being created by “outsiders” in Muslims against each other. He said the Ummah was passing through a critical juncture and its survival depended on its unity.