Iran, US express confidence in Pakistan for talks: FO

Islamabad: Foreign Office says Iran and the United States have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate talks aimed at ending war in the region.

This was stated by Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tahir Andrabi, while replying to a question at his weekly media briefing in Islamabad today.

The Spokesperson said we would be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict.

He said Pakistan has a very important relationship with the United States. We have remained actively engaged with the US leadership on our efforts to de-escalate the situation and find a peaceful settlement of this conflict.

Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had also condemned the attack that was carried out against the Gulf countries by Iran and also the attack on Iran as well. He said Pakistan's position is anchored on the principles of the UN Charter with the aim of promoting peace and stability in the region.

Responding to another question, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said the five points announced  following the recent visit of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to China  regarding ending of hostilities, de-escalation in the regional situation and initiation of dialogue between the concerned parties, have received appreciation from across the region and beyond including the United States.

He said it is an effort towards ending war, cessation of hostilities and paving the way for sustainable pathway towards finding the lasting settlement to the conflict.

Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan's efforts would continue despite complications that may arise in the facilitation process. He said Pakistan would continue its efforts in pursuit of facilitation and advocacy for dialogue aimed at peace.

Replying a question, he said a delegation of Pakistan, comprising senior officials, is currently in Urumqi, China and holding talks with the Afghan officials. He said Pakistan has never shied away from negotiations. We are also engaged with China on Afghanistan.

Answering yet another question about recent statement of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding Shia community in Pakistan, the Spokesperson emphatically rejected India's remarks as cynical and diversionary.

He also expressed his concerns about bracketing Shia brothers and sisters in Pakistan as in a majority-minority paradigm saying that this is a lack of knowledge of the faith of Islam.

Tahir Andrabi said Shia brothers and sisters are part of the mainstream Muslims. There is no distinction for us between Shias and Sunnis in terms of majority-minority paradigm as these are just schools of thought within a broader Muslim faith.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson said bracketing Shias majority-minority paradigm is extremely dangerous. He said by doing so, Indians are trying to stoke sectarianism and discord within our society as they stoke terrorism in Pakistan. 

Tahir Andrabi said Indians should be mindful that within the Muslim community in India, there are Shia and Sunni denominations. He said such kind of rhetoric is not good for themselves because the Muslim community which Indians have been persecuting for long, particularly under this present regime, they would be stoking the sectarianism, which would hurt their own country as well.