Off the wire
• Interview: We were treated as "war expendables" by Imperial Japan: ex-suicide attacker  • Greece extends condolences over deadly explosions in China  • Thai minister sees measures to counter RMB fall unnecessary  • British foreign secretary offers deep condolences over Tianjin explosions  • First Chinese NGO registered in Nepal to assist in post-quake reconstruction  • Afghan FM arrives in Islamabad for security talks  • China's crude steel output in landmark dip  • Indian stocks close higher  • Libyan spokesman revokes PM's resignation  • 1st LD-Writethru: Beleaguered Lenovo to lay off 3,200  
You are here: 　 Home

Iran backs Pakistan-brokered Afghan peace talks, says FM

Xinhua, August 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, on Thursday backed the Pakistan-brokered peace talks between the Afghan gov't and the Taliban and said the process will ensure security in the region. "Iran is very much supportive of peace security cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan and in the region in general and inside Afghanistan,"the Iranian Foreign Minister when asked about his country's stance on the peace process.

Pakistan hosted the first ever direct talks between the Taliban and Afghan gov't in 14 years on July 7, however, the second round was postponed due to the death of the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar. The second round was scheduled to be held on Aug. 31 in Pakistan.

The Afghan gov't refused to continue the talks after a series of recent Taliban attacks in Kabul and in some other Afghan cities.

Pakistan's top security adviser, Sartaj Aziz, told a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday that his country will make serious efforts to bring the peace process back on track.

Speaking along with Iranian foreign minister, the Pakistani adviser also said misunderstanding which surfaced over a spate of attacks in Afghanistan will be removed in talks with an Afghan delegation.

The Afghan delegation, led by Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, arrived in Islamabad Thursday afternoon to discuss anti- terror cooperation and the revival of the peace process.

The Iranian foreign minister said Pakistan has been playing a responsible role in the region and all the regional countries should work together to fight the common challenges of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism.

The Iranian foreign minister said his country is supportive of peace and security cooperation amongst the regional countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Iranian foreign minister and Pakistani adviser earlier held formal talks and both"resolved to expand bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including economy, trade, energy and border management for peace and security in the region."

The two sides also agreed to effectively utilize the existing institutional mechanism for bilateral interactions, the two leaders said at a joint press conference. Endi