ISLAMABAD, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday opposed military solution to the Afghan conflict during high-level diplomatic talks in Islamabad, officials said.
The Foreign Ministry said Pakistani and Iranian officials held the first round of informal consultations at the level of Director Generals of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs on regional situation especially the efforts of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
"Underlining that there was no military solution to the prolonged Afghan conflict, they emphasized the need of a credible political process owned and led by Afghanistan for an internal settlement," said a statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting.
In the consultations, the Pakistani delegation was led by Director General (Afghanistan) Mansoor Ahmad Khan from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Iranian side was led by Director General (West Asia) Rasoul Eslami of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who visited Islamabad for these consultations.
The two directors general reaffirmed commitment and support of Pakistan and Iran to the efforts of Afghanistan and the international community for achieving lasting peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan, which is important for regional stability, a Foreign Ministry statement said.
Recognizing that terrorism is a major threat to global and regional peace, the two sides discussed that threats such as increasing terrorism and violence in Afghanistan, rising drug production and trafficking and expanding foothold of IS especially posed challenge for Afghanistan and its neighbourhood.
"They emphasized the need of concerted efforts and cooperation among all the states in counter-terrorism, border management and combating production and trafficking of narcotics," the statement said.
This was the first round of bilateral consultations with Iran on regional peace and security with focus on the situation in Afghanistan. The two sides agreed to continue these informal consultations as part of their strong commitment to peace, stability and progress in Afghanistan, and the region.
Pakistan delegation stated that it attaches importance to engagement with Afghanistan in political, security, economic and people-to-people interaction to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
