PM, Sharif to discuss further talks

Conceding that the United States was pressurising both countries to resume dialogue, Aziz said, Pakistan wanted “serious negotiations” with India. “There has been international pressure on India and Pakistan to reduce tension in the region but we want a sincere dialogue unlike India which mediates just to ward off international pressure,” Aziz said.

He said the danger of conflict in South Asia had risen after the nuclear tests by Indiafollowed by Pakistan. “That’s why international community wants us to resume dialogue,” he said.

Aziz said Nawaz Sharif was also scheduled to meet US President Bill Clinton on September 21 besides having a meeting with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.

In a statement about his visit to Tehran, Aziz said Pakistan had given a proposal to Iran to form a joint committee to probe into the allegations of foreign involvement in Afghanistan. He said Iran had not yet given its assent for the formation of the joint committee. Pakistan would welcome enhanced UN role in solving the conflict between Iran and Afghanistan.

On Thursday, Aziz had air-dashed to Tehran for a one-day visit to hand over a letter from PM Nawaz Sharif to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. Aziz, however, could not meet Khatami since he was not in Tehran and instead delivered the letter to Vice-President Hasan Habibi. Aziz also held negotiations with Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi.

Admitting that Iran had reservations overAfghan situation and had been accusing Pakistan of military intervention, Aziz said the purpose of his visit to Tehran was to allay these fears. “They again alleged that the Taliban victories were possible only due to Pakistan’s military support and assistance,” Aziz said.

“This is completely untrue,” Aziz said and added, “I told the Iranian leaders that we do not accept their allegations that our armed forces had been involved in the Taliban military operations.” Aziz said he had told the Iranian leadership that if there was any evidence it should be shared with Pakistan.

Aziz said he also expressed Pakistan’s willingness to have a bilateral commission to determine the nature and level of external interference in Afghanistan.

“The Iranian leadership repeated their outrage,” Aziz said while referring to the killing of Iranian personnel in Mazar-e-Sharif. He said Iran had reiterated its demand that the Taliban should render an apology for the killing, apprehend and extradite to Iran thoseresponsible and repatriate the dead bodies of the remaining personnel.

“The purpose of visit was to have frank and intensive deliberations on the situation in Afghanistan and to discuss measures that would lead to an easing of tension between Iran and Afghanistan,” Aziz said.

Aziz said the Taliban, as a goodwill gesture, had released five Iranian prisoners and had followed it up with an announcement that another five would be announced tomorrow. He said Pakistan’s ambassador would fly to Kandhar to collect the Iranian prisoners.

He said Taliban had not only regretted the killing of Iranian personnel and had announced to apprehend and punish the responsible but also expressed a desire to hold negotiations on all outstanding issues with Iran.

During his talks with Iranian leaders Aziz emphasised that it was most important to defuse the prevailing tension that had been created by the massing of Iranian troops along the Afghan border. “I emphasise that our relations with Iran were precious to us,”Aziz said.

He said, a conflict would have a devastating effect on the peace and stability of the entire region and should be avoided at all cost. “We are ready to work closely with you at the UN, the OIC or any other forum to resolve the present crisis,” he had told the Iranian leaders.