Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Wednesday that Pakistan was open to Iran’s mediatory role for reviving the stalled Afghan peace process. “We will welcome any contribution which Iran can make also in talking to the groups which are involved in this decision-making and ultimately then promoting a more broad-based dialogue process to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan,” Mr Aziz said. He was answering a question at a press conference with the visiting secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, after their talks at the Foreign Office. Mr Shamkhani was in Islamabad on a two-day visit for discussions on regional security, bilateral cooperation and border control. He also met newly appointed National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Nasser Janjua. The aggravating security situation in Afghanistan was discussed during both the meetings held with Mr Shamkhani and it was agreed that the two countries would work together for peace and stability in neighbouring Afghanistan. The fear of IS has surely played some role in the serious efforts to find a political solution to the crisis of the Afghan Taliban and the government there. Iran, sharing as it does a border with Afghanistan and long having influence in the country, could be yet another international piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is finding a sustainable peace in Afghanistan.To the extent that Tehran can be encouraged to participate in and Pakistan can help make space for Iran in the diplomatic push to find a durable peace in Afghanistan, the state here should do whatever it can. Beyond that there would be need for a fundamental rethink of the relationship with Iran if bilateral trade and investment are to be ramped up and the security relationship expanded beyond historically narrow concerns.
pk.shafaqna.com
