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TEHRAN: Iran on Monday denied reports that Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour entered Pakistan from the Islamic republic before being killed in a United States (US) drone strike, state media reported.
Pakistani security officials told AFP on Sunday that the man killed on Saturday in Balochistan, believed at the time to be Mansour, had just returned from Iran when his vehicle was attacked.
US President Barack Obama on Monday confirmed that Mansour had been killed in a US air strike, hailing his death as an "important milestone" in efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari was quoted by the official IRNA news agency on Monday as denying Mansour had been in the country before the attack.
"The competent authorities of the Islamic republic deny that this person on this date crossed Iran's border and into Pakistan," he said.
"Iran welcomes any positive action leading to peace and stability in Afghanistan," he added, without elaborating.
Pakistani identity documents found on the body of the man believed to be Mansour named him as Muhammad Wali, and showed he had left for Iran on March 28 and returned the day he was killed.
President Ashraf Ghani meanwhile arrived in Tehran on Monday for the signing of a tripartite agreement between Iran, India and Afghanistan to turn Iran's port of Chabahar into a transit hub between the three countries, bypassing Pakistan.
Iran supports the Afghan government in its fight against the Taliban group.
Islamabad called the US drone attack a violation of its sovereignty.
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Comments (93) Closed
May 23, 2016 03:44pm
Iran wants to remain clean on such issues. And that's very obvious too.
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May 23, 2016 03:43pm
You cant blame Iran for your mess.
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May 23, 2016 03:45pm
Pakistan will be a fool to mess with Iran. It needs to build a strong partnership with Iran to counter the India + Iran buildup.
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May 23, 2016 03:46pm
Better late then NEVER !. INTROSPECT !
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May 23, 2016 03:46pm
Iran is playing double game. It is more dangerous for Pakistan than US and Afghanistan on our western borders. Pakistani intelligence need to keep a strong vigil on Iranian borders. We need no longer see Iran as our good friend.
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May 23, 2016 03:50pm
Iran Own interest cannot allow to speak the truth, playing dual role one side by talking with Taliban for ISIS and backing RAW against CPEC.
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May 23, 2016 03:50pm
How do Iranian know that Mullah Mansoor was not in Iran. These terrorists do not cross borders through immigration check post. They have their own system to be wherever they want to be.
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May 23, 2016 03:52pm
These are muslim countries ba passing another muslim country. No doubt why muslim suffers because they themselves don't have unity.
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May 23, 2016 03:53pm
Pakistan always suffer in trusting. These are the old mistakes which making Pakistan answerable.
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May 23, 2016 03:56pm
Let the game of ping pong and denials begin.
Next, someone in Pak government is going to feign,' Mullah Mansour, who? He was never in Pakistan'.
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May 23, 2016 03:56pm
Iran & Afghanistan stabbing Pakistan in the back since decades
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May 23, 2016 03:56pm
@A Dejected Karachiite You are right. Iran has a completely different agenda for this region and their only partners are Syria, Lebanon, Russia and India. The poppy growers in this scenario are involved but are irrelevant and will remain so for centuries to come.
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May 23, 2016 03:57pm
But Iran did not deny that the RAW agent was not facilitated from Iran into Pakistan,
Iran is playing a dangerous game but should also be ready for the backlash, Iran has already fallen in the western trap, The New Iran leadership do not have the experience with the Americans, they will doom Iran with Indian help... The more Pakistan enemy will round Pakistan from all sides the more Pakistan will immerge as power Inshahallah...
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May 23, 2016 03:59pm
He was a Pakistani citizen as he had National ID Card...why does it even matter if he just came back from Iran or not? It is very silly thing to do by Pakistan trying point fingers towards Iran for now reason...first we gave their president a cold shoulder when he was visiting Pakistan few weeks back now the whole world is going to iran for trade.
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May 23, 2016 04:00pm
Give access to media on the evidence... Passport and visa entries have lil chance to be denied...
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May 23, 2016 04:01pm
I will not believe a word what Iran says. They also denied Kulbushan Jhadev to be in Iran until confronted with evidence. Pakistan needs to seriously look at the relationship with Iran.
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May 23, 2016 04:03pm
Iran is giving away Chabahar port to India which is infested by RAW agents already. Should Pakistan trust a word from Iran? I say no.
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May 23, 2016 04:04pm
India Iran strategic partnership.
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May 23, 2016 04:05pm
@Kamal Pasha. Mullah Mansoor was killed inside Pakistan, near to the border of Afghanistan.
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May 23, 2016 04:14pm
we all know how how truthful state of Iran is
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May 23, 2016 04:16pm
50 miles around Taftan, is basically a free zone. Kamal Pasha has a point.
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May 23, 2016 04:19pm
Whom to call friend?
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May 23, 2016 04:23pm
Pakistan is in a mess and the establishment is not ready to change its course. India, US, Afghanistan and Iran are an obvious anti-Pakistan nexus surrounding us from all sides now. Never before have we had a compulsive need for a true honest political leadership with a vision and resolve to take us out of problems and guide us on the right political and economic path. The nation is tired of thugs running the country who, due to their corrupt ways and lack of sincerity, aren't even able to keep and exercise their constitutional powers.
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May 23, 2016 04:26pm
The persons in the car charred beyond recognition but their paper passport survived the fire ?. Ridiculous.
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May 23, 2016 04:26pm
Iran has played safe so far on international level. Though he is actively involved in destabilizing gulf states and Balochistan.
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May 23, 2016 04:27pm
all said and done Iran was the country which actually challenged US for more than 20 years. Iran has clearly demonstrated it is a country which is no wus and had a backbone.
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May 23, 2016 04:29pm
long live India, Iran and Afghan brothers..
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May 23, 2016 04:31pm
The true face of Iran is slowly and gradually being exposed
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May 23, 2016 04:31pm
Iran is a lier they also denied Raw agents were hiding in their country.
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May 23, 2016 04:38pm
how passport survived even after everything burnt.
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May 23, 2016 04:40pm
Iran has no role as they have no role in syria, Iraq, and yamen
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May 23, 2016 04:42pm
Time runs fast...good old Shahinshah days...the friend of Pakistan...we should never trust the present Iran Government..Pakistan must make itself absolutely independent with no enemies and not support or oppose anyone in their internal maters...including Israel...
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May 23, 2016 04:43pm
Pakistan has to be very cautious in tackling the new threat emerged by collaboration of troika, to developing Chabahar Port. We have to uncover the covert intentions of our neighbouring countries.
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May 23, 2016 04:43pm
@ali ...Americans always do that whenever they want they produce passports and documents...
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May 23, 2016 04:46pm
Pakistan has borders with Afghanistan, Iran and India. All countries bordering Pakistan have long been accusing it of sponsoring or supporting bad elements. Pakistan should drop its foreign policy of using non state actors against its neighbors as it is clearly not working and will never work, in fact it has back fired on itself.
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May 23, 2016 04:48pm
@Sam , None of us know whether it is Pakistan or Iran which is misguiding.
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May 23, 2016 04:49pm
@VM
Iran and Saudi Arabia alongwith US are responsible for all the mess in the Muslim world.
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May 23, 2016 04:50pm
Iran has contact with afghan taleban leaders just like Pakistan Turkey Qatar Saudi and even the Americans do.
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May 23, 2016 04:55pm
@lafanga Chah bahar is a flop and everyone knows it. India can't raise the funds needed for the project and the Iranians are wary about Indian military objectives there. This is fact. Besides Gwadar can far out-Trump Chahbahar. Fact.
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May 23, 2016 04:56pm
Iran could not find a single Muslim country to be friends with...only India...
there is a big question mark of doubt against Iran's intentions....???
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May 23, 2016 05:00pm
@Tamil Guru look at Indias neighbors even Sri Lanka and Maldives all of which accuse India of meddling in their affairs. Even the former Hindu republic of Nepal has serious anti Indian sentiment. Who backed the Tamil Tigers and who organized mass murder of Razakars and Biharis in Bangladesh?
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May 23, 2016 05:01pm
@Asad are bhai, first resolve this existing issue!
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May 23, 2016 05:02pm
Pakistan has not accused Iran of any implication in this incident. Only that the pass ports found on one of the dead bodies had Iranian entry and exit stamped on it. No body is accusing Iran. So why must Iran be bothered?
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May 23, 2016 05:03pm
I thought Iran was our friend. Looks like we are losing friends on all sides
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May 23, 2016 05:03pm
The person who was killed by the drone was a Pakistani Citizen who should have been killed by Pakistanies. Having failed in that mission why blame another country ?
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May 23, 2016 05:04pm
After viewing the video footage of the drone strike, it looks very dubious that some documents were found from the occupant/ car. No documents could have survived that fiery fire-engulfed car.
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May 23, 2016 05:07pm
@Tamil Guru, I am from Pakistan and must say that I have to agree with your assessment. Pakistan has made bad choices that were very detrimental to its own society.
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May 23, 2016 05:16pm
We can choose friends but not neighbors . Unfortunately Pakistan is surrounded by wicked neighbors
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May 23, 2016 05:18pm
@Infidel you guys are not brothers and never will be india is just using them
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May 23, 2016 05:19pm
ohh please stop fooling yourself Iran was never our friend and never will be
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May 23, 2016 05:23pm
@Infidel To hell with you taunt, no one care about brotherhood.
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May 23, 2016 05:24pm
How can Iran categorically deny, without physically verifying that the person killed whether Mansour, or Wali, did not come from Iran, although valid travel documents obtained from him are clearly showing his entry and exit from Iran?
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May 23, 2016 05:26pm
India is a very big economy. Moreover, Mr. Modi having a clear cut vision and idea for doing things. Not only Chabahar port but more projects are likely to be undertaken successfully.
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May 23, 2016 05:27pm
@SAEED MASOOD Because most of Muslims countries are bought by Saudis petro dollars to act against Iran. Iran has every right to have good relations with all countries.
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May 23, 2016 05:32pm
@Shahid Lone asks :-> Who backed the Tamil Tigers and who organized mass murder of Razakars and Biharis in Bangladesh?
Mr Sahid Lone, get your facts straight. You are talking nonsense. The Tamil Tigers are from Sri Lanka and have nothing to do with the Razakars and Biharis in Bangladesh.
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May 23, 2016 05:32pm
Were pakistani passport and other documents recovered from black box of burned vehicle?
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May 23, 2016 05:36pm
@Asad Too late for that now. Iran has already moved very close to India.
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May 23, 2016 05:39pm
Coincident or Intentional: Both Afghanistan and Indian presidents IN Tehran, same style of involving Iran during President Rohani visit to Islamabad,
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May 23, 2016 05:42pm
@Iftikhar Khan says:-> Pakistan has made bad choices that were very detrimental to its own society.
Sir, I salute you. You are so sensible and absolutely correct. I wish there were more level headed and unbiased people like you in Pakistan. Countries around the world may have differences with their neighbors from time to time. Even US-Canada and France-Germany have issues from time to time. These are discussed and solved with dialogs and not by using non state actors and terrorists.
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May 23, 2016 05:43pm
Interesting to see how our Indian friends are jumping up and down to defend Iran !
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May 23, 2016 05:44pm
documents found on body or in car was fireproof ... even green passport is fireoroof.
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May 23, 2016 05:45pm
It would be too naive on the part of Nawaz Sharif our statesman Prime Minister/Foreign Minister/ Patron in Chief PCB to expect them to admit!.
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May 23, 2016 05:47pm
Pakistan is losing friends very rapidly. Its time for Government and especially the people to come out of false world and clamp down on ego. A country cant prosper if all its neighbours are considering as enemy. Its a wake up call for Pakistan to remove all bad elements and implement some reforms.
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May 23, 2016 05:47pm
@msadiq says:-> Interesting to see how our Indian friends are jumping up and down to defend Iran !
Your statement is a really twisted way of seeing things. Indian are jumping up and down not to defend Iran but to oppose and stop terrorism.
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May 23, 2016 05:55pm
@Tamil Guru you just backed my point, again ! Indians opposing terrorism ! That's another interesting point. I am pleased you saw twist in my one and half line !
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May 23, 2016 05:58pm
We should not blame everything on Iran. Although as a fellow muslim country Iran and Pakistan should increase its border security along side borders. Some powers are utilizing this lesser security as we don't have any threat from Iran hence less checking and less security. And people are commenting Iran like some enemy like India, that is totally wrong we just need more strong ties with Iran and should be careful as well because Iran will consider its own interest as would we.
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May 23, 2016 06:00pm
May be Iran authorities tipped off US agencies about Mullah's location.
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May 23, 2016 06:07pm
It seems Iranian are playing some sort of game. First it was the Indian spy and now this.
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May 23, 2016 06:08pm
US's (India) answer to Jadhav episode ??
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May 23, 2016 06:13pm
Clean up your country and look to take your country towards prosperity.
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May 23, 2016 06:18pm
@Kamal Pasha. ...because the whole world knows he was killed in the territory of Pakistan...
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May 23, 2016 06:20pm
Iran & Afghanistan stabbing Pakistan in the back since decades
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May 23, 2016 06:24pm
Just a few hours ago, India and Iran have completed the signing of the Chabahar deal by Modi and Rouhani.
They have also issued a joint statement vowing to jointly combat terrorism and extremism in the region.
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May 23, 2016 06:47pm
Iran is always playing double. They are never against America or Israel.
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May 23, 2016 06:51pm
@SAEED MASOOD ... Pakistan is already Friends with so many countries , grow up please... the world around us has changed, globalization has resulted in unconventional co-operations between different countries.
Just like we are trying to establish relations with Russia !! Iran is also trying to look for friends in the region.
We as Pakistanis should do the same and keep our interests above all
!!!
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May 23, 2016 06:55pm
@Khurram - The only country we can trust now is China. Hope nothing comes between us.
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May 23, 2016 06:56pm
Iran would just check if Mansour's name appears on border check list.If he travelled on any other name on fake passport how iran can know or confirm ? First pak need to investgate and confirm his second identity.
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May 23, 2016 06:57pm
@Shahid Lone Indias backing is the reason for the stability in these countries.
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May 23, 2016 06:58pm
@Ali
seriously ? are we not siding with USA which is a staunch enemy of Iran ?? Please grow up !
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May 23, 2016 07:35pm
@Tamil Guru, Having agreed with your other assessment I have to say that India is no angel either and did also played its part that was not constructive in SL and also in BD. The result of its involvement was mayhem and chaos in SL and BD. The difference b/w Indian and Pakistan role (IMHO)in their involvement in regional plays is that Pakistan used its general society (as you said non state actors) for which the common people are paying very heavy price.
It is like risking 1000 rupees for a very low probability potential of earning 10 rupees.
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May 23, 2016 07:45pm
So USA Iran Afghanistan and India are in same page with respect to taliban.
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May 23, 2016 07:46pm
@SAEED MASOOD I agree 3000 percent , Sir.
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May 23, 2016 07:56pm
@Shahid Lone Dont worry Pakistan COS was in china meeting the chines premier and other military leaders. They will complete CPEC. Let them do what Iran And India doing. I am sure Pakistan and china know what they are doing. Period.
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May 23, 2016 07:59pm
@k2aaa Best of all comments - makes common sense!
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May 23, 2016 08:02pm
@SAEED MASOOD
Partly agree and partly disagree with you, I think Pakistan's policy should be based on principles of self interest with morals and ethics but without bending backwards for 'anyone'. It should say the right things and support the oppressed but without becoming a bullyboy for others, we should learn by now that doing that gives us nothing
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May 23, 2016 08:05pm
Iran is an independent country and playing positive role in the region and beyond.
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May 23, 2016 08:11pm
Iran and Pakistan are contradicting. Who is correct?
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May 23, 2016 08:16pm
Just note Iran-US nexus. a new beginning in a confused world. India, Iran and Afghanistan through the US.
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May 23, 2016 09:29pm
@Yousuf Iran was never friend of Pakistan. It was our wishful thinking. I remember my trip back in 1975 from Turkey to Pakistan via Iran during the time of Shah. Even those days Iran government used give the Indian citizen visa for 6 months and only for 15 days to Pakistani. They definitely not friend of Pakistan, they only look for their interest. Same go for Afghan. There is no country in the world would take 3 million refugees and practically give them all citizenship except Pakistan to Afghanis. Where was India then if they are so good friend of Afghan.
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May 23, 2016 11:06pm
Pakistanis have always belived it should have good and brotherly relations with Iran. Pakistanis will never forget the help Iran gave in the 60's .
Pakistan acted right when Saudis pressured it against Iran.
But it seems like Iran is alien itself more with India. More and more proofs are emerging that iranians are providing enemys of Pakistan safe routes and even authentic visas to enter legally in Pakistan.
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May 24, 2016 12:21am
To those beating the drum of Muslim brotherhood:
It wouldn't hurt if you read a book or two on political science and politics. Thanks
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May 24, 2016 02:21am
Why does our country, Pakistan always figure in the international media for the wrong reasons? Why was this man in our country? Was he here on his own, or was he being given protection by anybody? This does immense damage to our image, despite all the good work of the right-thinking people. As long as this sort of stuff goes on, nobody will want to invest in our country, and there will be no hope for our economy. I wish the situation changed.
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May 24, 2016 01:03pm
It is not yet confirmed that the person killed in US Drone attack was Mulla Mansoor . It is astonishing and a miracle that the steel made Vehiclle carrying Killed passengers
Had been transformed into Ashes but a paper made Passport recovered from the vehicle, in a very good condition without damaging its plastic cover even. Realy its a Miracalous.
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