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ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday made a brief stopover in Tehran and discussed with the Iranian leaders situation in Afghanistan and the UN-sponsored process for establishing a broad-based government in Kabul.
Foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan at the daily briefing said that the president’s plane made a technical stopover in Tehran for refuelling.
President Musharraf and the first lady, Sehba Pervez, were received by first Prime Minister Dr Raza Arif, wife of Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi and Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsin Aminzada. Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi was abroad, he said.
Later, President Musharraf held talks with the Iranian authorities where the two sides agreed to coordinate closely and maintain contact with regard to establishment of a broad-based government in Afghanistan under the umbrella of the United Nations.
Mr Khan said that the president would also make a technical stopover in Istanbul on his way to the United States.
The spokesman termed “baseless and motivated” the reports carried by some international organizations that the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency was still supporting the Taliban.
He said Pakistan was strictly abiding by the Security Council resolutions.
AFGHAN ENVOY: To a question about the ban imposed on Afghan ambassador to hold press conferences in Islamabad, he said the ambassador was told and reminded of the third country rule. He said under the rules a diplomatic mission could not use its embassy for purpose of propaganda against any third country.
Mulla Zaeef had been asked not to hold press conferences and issue statements against a third country, he said.
When asked whether a ban had been imposed on Afghan Embassy, he said, an embassy had many functions to do and the Afghan ambassador had been asked just to observe diplomatic norms and third country rule.
He said there was no ban on Mulla Zaeef speaking about the losses and casualties as well as the war and the humanitarian plight of his country.
To another question about the reaction of Mulla Zaeef and the reasons for stopping him from holding press conferences, he said the Afghan ambassador just listened and went back. With regard to reason, he said the government felt a need to remind him of the rule.
The spokesman simply refused to give further details about the need of reminding the third party rule to Mulla Zaeef.
He also dismissed reports that Lakhdar Brahimi had been pursuing a plan for division of Afghanistan on ethnic lines. He said the content of the reports had nothing to do with the caption.
He said the report contained no comment of Mr Brahimi about the division of Afghanistan. He said there was a unanimity of views among all factions and groups of Afghans that the territorial integrity of their country should be preserved.
Explaining Pakistan’s position, he said it had also been for preserving the unity of Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan had no idea about the plans of Mr Brahimi and these would be known only when he would present it before the international community.
To a question about strike call for Friday, the spokesman said only a small group of people were agitating and normal life was going on peacefully.
