FM calls for peaceful settlement of disputes in region
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a telephone conversation with his Indian counterpart, emphasized on peaceful settlement of disputes in the region, calling for dialogue.
Zarif and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on Thursday also conferred on the latest developments in bilateral ties as well as regional issues, IRNA reported.
Zarif called on India and Pakistan to put an end to hostilities and resolve their dispute peacefully in a bid to avoid further violence.
It came after India launched an airstrike inside Pakistan, claiming it targeted militants behind a Feb. 14 bombing in Indiancontrolled Kashmir that killed over 40 Indian troops.
Pakistan retaliated by downing two Indian fighter jets and capturing a pilot who was later handed back.
India and Pakistan have fought three of their four wars over Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer separate portions of.
Zarif has recently said the country is doing whatever it can to mediate between India and Pakistan and help ease tensions between the two countries, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Also last week, in a telephone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Zarif expressed regret over the recent clashes between India and Pakistan, and voiced Iran’s readiness to contribute to peaceful settlement of disputes between the two Asian states.
The top Iranian diplomat also called on both states to show self-restraint and sit for talks over their disputes as soon as possible.
UN chief Antonio Guterres is “continually” monitoring the situation between the two states and his office is available to both parties, his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said on Friday, PTI reported.