ISLAMABAD, March 19: A special Iranian envoy flew into Pakistan on Wednesday to deliver a message from President Mohammad Khatami to President Pervez Musharraf as a US-led invasion of Iraq appeared imminent, the foreign ministry said.

While it would not reveal the details of the message, the ministry said in a statement that it “related to the fast evolving situation in Iraq”.

The ministry said the envoy was former Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati, who is adviser to Iranian spititual leader Ali Khamenei.

The unannounced visit followed a 48-hour ultimatum given by US President George Bush at 0100 GMT on Tuesday to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his sons to quit Iraq or face military consequences, claiming war was the only option.

The statement quoted Mr Velayati as telling President Musharraf that “Iran wanted the Iraqi issue to be resolved peacefully.”

“Iran desires close consultations with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries for the peace, progress and prosperity in the region,” the envoy said.

Gen Musharraf apprised Mr Velayati of the efforts Pakistan had made towards the peaceful resolution of the Iraqi issue.

The president stressed that “even in the most difficult circumstances diplomacy had a role to play,” the statement said.

He called for “close collaboration between Pakistan and Iran for the promotion of peace in the region”, it added.

Pakistan is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. It has been pressing for a peaceful solution of the Iraqi crisis, simultaneously calling on Baghdad to comply with disarmament demands.

Hours after Mr Bush’s statement, Pakistan on Tuesday made a last-ditch appeal for peace.

“We continue to urge all concerned to consider all options to still endeavour to bring about a peaceful solution of this problem,” Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said in a statement.

“Pakistan believes that the time and space for diplomacy never ends,” Mr Kasuri said.—AFP