In an exclusive interview with IRNA in Islamabad on Monday, Senator Waleed Iqbal said the historical, social, religious and cultural commonalities between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan are important in expanding bilateral relations and at the same time working together to resolve regional issues.
Grandson of Iqbal Lahori, a Pakistani poet and philosopher, described Iran and Pakistan as two important neighbors that have a key position in resolving regional issues, particularly helping the Afghan crisis.
"Foreign solutions or the presence of extra-regional forces have never been the solution to Afghanistan's problems and will not work even today, so the people of Afghanistan and+-all stakeholders in the peace process must decide their own destiny and the role of regional actors," he said.
Waleed Iqbal added unfortunately, the current situation in Afghanistan indicates a strong possibility of escalating violence and a civil war, which in the first instance will pose a threat to Iran and Pakistan, two countries that have hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades.
He said Pakistan is facing the danger of a new wave of Afghan refugees to its borders, while we are not able to host more refugees and we believe that the government of Pakistan should use the experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran to control this situation.
He called the recent intra-Afghan summit hosted by the Islamic Republic of Iran with the participation of Afghan delegations very important and added developments in the region, especially Afghanistan, confirm the need for greater convergence between Tehran and Islamabad to help this common neighbor.
A member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Pakistani Parliament said Tehran Peace Summit means the strong position of Afghanistan's neighbors to help the country and proves that important players in the region, including Iran and Pakistan, should work to help solve Afghanistan's problems.
He stressed Prime Minister Imran Khan's government is determined to provide any facilitation and cooperation to strengthen peace and stability in Afghanistan, and for this reason Pakistan has told the international community that it is willing to participate in the long term peace process but will not be a partner in any conflict.
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