Iran offers to help in Indo-Pak negotiations

In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Iran on Monday said the countries 'nurturing' terrorists have a responsibility of putting an end to such activities, even as it asked New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve their differences through talks without involving 'foreign forces'. Iranian Ambassador Seyed Mehdi Nabizadeh said his country could have a role in helping in the negotiations between India and Pakistan.

"Iran, India and Pakistan, all have condemned these attacks (in Mumbai). All our three countries (India, Pakistan and Iran) are suffering from such terrorist attacks," he told reporters in New Delhi when asked about Iran's position on the Mumbai attacks, considering that India had urged it to put pressure on Pakistan to act.

"The countries that are nurturing these terrorists have a responsibility to put a stop to all that," the ambassador said without naming any nation but apparently referring to Pakistan.

Favouring a dialogue between India and Pakistan, he said "I believe that negotiations are going on well. I am sure that India and Pakistan will reach some sort of agreement."

"We, as friends of India and Pakistan, have a role to play in pushing ahead these negotiations," he said.

The Iranian ambassador, however, underlined that countries besides the region should be kept away from any such negotiations between India and Pakistan.

"Involvement of foreign forces in negotiations and relations between the two neighbouring countries will not help in the establishment of peace," Nabizadeh said. "We feel that the two countries and secondly the regional countries should play a role in resolving these issues," he said.

India had earlier sought to reach out Iran, asking it to put pressure on Pakistan to act and ensure that culprits of the Mumbai attacks are punished.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Mehdi Akhoundzadeh, who undertook a visit soon after the Mumbai attacks to discuss the issue, had said Pakistan should make a 'strong commitment' to end terrorism.

He had also said India and Pakistan should respond in a 'mature' manner to the Mumbai attacks and not allow the incident to derail their ties.