Expressing its solidarity with India in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, Iran Friday asked Pakistan to deal with terrorism ?with an iron hand?. While suggesting that the two countries should resolve the issues with a ?cool-headed? approach, Tehran also indicated the progress in negotiations on the tri-nation pipeline has been hit by the strain in the India-Pakistan ties after the Mumbai carnage.
Iranian deputy foreign minister Mohammad Mahdi Akhounzadeh when asked what he thought about India?s accusation that Pakistan based elements are involved, said, ?The Pakistan government has to make a strong commitment that they will not tolerate terrorism. Pakistan must deal with terrorism with an iron hand.?
However, the visiting minister advised both the countries to resolve issues with maturity by not giving in to the designs of terrorists who want to create instability in the region and derail the peace between the two countries.
?Terrorists should not dictate the policy. We should not fall victim to terrorists,? he said. ?India and Pakistan have political maturity to deal with these issues. They should take a futuristic look. We should not fall victim to provocation,? said Akhounzadeh, who has served as Iran?s ambassador to both India and Pakistan.
Asked what he considered was the root cause of terrorism in the region and terror attacks like the November 26 Mumbai strikes, he told media persons that, : ?The contemporary development in Afghanistan. There is a growing sense of insecurity in Afghanistan. The development in Afghanistan is alarming.? ?Those who tried to restore peace and stability have failed,? Akhounzadeh, who deals with Afghanistan, said in an obvious reference to the US? policy in Afghanistan.
While referring to his discussions with external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon late Thrusday, in which the Mumbai attacks figured prominently, the visiting minister said, ?We touched upon the issue at face value. We have to be vigilant about who are benefiting from it.?
?Sporadic terrorist attacks should not deter the collective wisdom of Asian countries as they continue their march in social, economic and political fields. This century belongs to Asia,? Akhounzadeh responded when asked whether the $7.5 billion Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline has been affected by tensions between the two neighbours in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
