TEHRAN, March 9: Pakistani and Afghan foreign ministers urged Iran on Monday to help the United States and other world powers to bring stability to war-torn Afghanistan.“I will speak to the Iranian foreign minister on this subject,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said before a meeting of foreign ministers from the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO). And the Afghan Foreign Minister, Rangeen Dadfar Spanta, said: “We definitely want the support and cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Mr Qureshi described Iran as an “important regional player” and said it would be “useful” if it took part in an international meeting on Afghanistan due to be held on March 31.

“I would urge and request my Iranian friends to consider participating,” he said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said on Friday that Iran would be invited to the Afghanistan meeting, in the latest overture by the administration of President Barack Obama towards its arch-foe. Iran said it was considering attending.

“We sincerely and honestly appreciate the participation of Iran in any international conference that helps stability in Afghanistan,” said Mr Spanta.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said at the ECO meeting that the “policy of occupation and interference by powers from outside the region has borne no results” in Iraq and Afghanistan.—AFP
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