Diplomacy first, assures Iran

“Our people feel that in the Afghan issue, our national interest has been harmed,” Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi told his visiting Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz in Tehran yesterday.

“As you see the relations between the two countries (Iran and Pakistan) are deteriorating and there is significant pressure on the Iranian authorities to resort to military means to avenge the crime,” he was quoted as saying by IRNA, the Iranian news agency.

Tension has been mounting between Iran and the Taliban since 11 Iranians — ten diplomats and an IRNA correspondent — went missing after the militia captured the northernAfghan town of Mazar-e-Sharif on August 8.

The Taliban admitted last week that they had found bodies of nine of the diplomats and said they had been killed by its fighters acting without orders.

Seven bodies, including the journalist, were identified and flown to Tehran this week.

Kharrazi said Iran wanted the immediate return of the bodies of the other two Iranians, the prompt release of all other Iranians held by the Taliban, and the arrest and trial of those responsible for killing the diplomats.

Aziz, whose visit was described as “unexpected and short” by the Iranian media, said Pakistan was ready to work for the transfer of the remaining bodies to Tehran.

“Pakistan is trying hard to secure the release of the Iranian nationals, and hopes that its efforts will bear fruit in the next few days,” IRNA quoted him as saying.

He said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Iran and would do everything possible to remove hurdles in the way of improving ties.

Kharrazi said therewas a limit beyond which Iranian authorities could not resist the pressure on them.

“It is clear that practical steps need to be taken by both Pakistan and the Taliban that would help ease off pressure and decrease tension,” he said.

“The Iranian foreign ministry is of the belief that diplomatic and international efforts should be given a try before resorting to use of force so that the Taliban are made to mend their previous course of actions, thus preventing further massacres in Afghanistan,” he said.

Kharrazi called for an international mechanism to prevent the killing of innocent people in Bamiyan and other parts of Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan needed to show political resolve and take steps to lower tension.

Relations between Iran and Pakistan have been under strain, with Iran accusing segments of the Pakistani army of helping the Taliban.

Aziz also met Iranian vice-president Hassan Habibi and handed over a letter from Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Iranian President MohammedKhatami.

He said Pakistan condemned the killing of the Iranians and conveyed condolences to the government and people of Iran and the families of those killed.

Habibi expressed Iran’s displeasure with Pakistan’s alleged support for the Taliban and listed various “criminal acts” committed by the militia.