The Hindu : Iran calls for restraint

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 22, 2002

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Iran calls for restraint

By C. Raja Mohan

Kamal Kharrazi

NEW DELHI May 21. Iran today called for an early dialogue between India and Pakistan to defuse the present military tension in the subcontinent and find a political solution to their bilateral problems.

The visiting Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, hoped that the leaders of India and Pakistan were "prudent enough to show their wisdom to engage in a dialogue instead of showing military muscle.''

In a conversation with The Hindu, Mr. Kharrazi expressed Iran's deep concern over the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, but hoped that "they would be defused as soon as possible''.

Asked about the Indian position that talks with Pakistan can only begin after an end to cross-border terrorism, he said the "vicious circle'' in the subcontinent "has to broken.''

It is only through dialogue "both sides can decide on how to move forward and take steps that can defuse the tension.''

Mr. Kharazzi later called on the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the talks covered both bilateral relations and the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan. Mr. Kharrazi left for Islamabad in the evening.

Sounding upbeat on the bilateral relations with India, he said the visit to Teheran last year by Mr. Vajpayee was a "milestone''. Since then, trade between the two countries had tripled and politically the two countries had drawn closer than ever before. Mr. Kharazzi was here principally to attend the meeting of the Joint Economic Commission.

India and Iran had, in recent years, developed intensive cooperation in countering the Taliban in Afghanistan. Mr. Kharrazi said the cooperation between the two sides on Afghanistan would continue in shaping the post-Taliban Afghanistan.

On the prospect of expanded energy cooperation between the two nations, he was hopeful that New Delhi and Teheran would soon decide on the pipeline project that would transport the abundant natural gas resources of Iran to India through Pakistan. The results of the joint feasibility studies are expected shortly.

Calling it the "peace pipeline,'' Mr. Kharrazi said the "strategic'' project "will help promote peace and security in the region by itself.'' But India continues to have concerns on letting the energy supplies run through a hostile Pakistan.

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