Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Pakistan he believes that terrorism, extremism, and violence recognizes no borders, no ethnicity, no religion and no sect. He said it was in everyone's interest to be engaged fully in resolving these problems.
This was said during a joint press conference following a meeting with the Pakistani prime minister's National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad on Thursday.
Javid Zarif said: "Iran is very much supportive of peace, security, cooperation both between Pakistan and Afghanistan and in the region in general and inside Afghanistan."
"We hope that the process of reconciliation - having the need to fight extremism and violence particularly extremists that come from Daesh, and the new inclusion of Daesh elements into Afghanistan, which is a threat against all of us - could be facilitated by all countries."
He added: "We welcome any cooperation in this region in these areas and we certainly welcome cooperation between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan in dealing with these threats."
Zarif who was in Pakistan on Thursday and in India on Friday, held high-level discussions with various high-ranking officials on the subject of peace and stability in the region.
Speaking at the same press conference in Islamabad, Aziz reiterated Pakistan's commitment to Afghanistan.
He said: "... The string of attacks against Kabul in the wake of the cancellation of the second round of peace talks has created some kind of apprehension within Afghanistan."
"I hope that any misunderstanding between the two countries will be removed," he said.
This comes after a high-level Afghan delegation visited Pakistan on Thursday and met with Aziz over the ongoing war in the country and Pakistan's reported involvement in it.
The delegation returned to Kabul on Thursday night but no details regarding the meeting have yet been revealed from the Afghan side.
However, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement late Thursday that Aziz had "emphasized that the two countries should have trust and faith in each other and discourage spoilers and detractors who have been trying to create mistrust between the two brotherly countries."
The ministry said Aziz reiterated Pakistan's condemnation of recent terrorist incidents in Afghanistan, expressed condolences, and underscored the need for joint efforts to meet common challenges and root-out the menace of terrorism.
"He conveyed the message that Pakistan stands in solidarity with the fraternal people of Afghanistan and would continue to extend all possible support in their quest for peace and stability in Afghanistan, including through facilitating an Afghan-led and Afghan owned peace and reconciliation process," read the statement.
Menawhile, Iran's Zarif went on to meet the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday – during his regional tour that will take him to Lebanon, Syria, India and Pakistan.
Again in India, he warned of the threats posed by Daesh as well as extremism and violence, urging a collective effort to battle the menaces.
Countering these evil scourges requires global determination and cooperation among different countries, Zarif said in the meeting with Modi.
He said Iran has always played an instrumental and constructive role in regional developments and sought to safeguard the security of the region.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/4039
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