Iran-Afghan crisis
UN, OIC launch peace mission

ISLAMABAD, Oct 3 (UNI) — The United Nations and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have undertaken a joint "peace mission’’ to amicably solve the Iran-Afghan crisis.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s special envoy for Afghanistan Lakhdar al-Ibrahimi will be visiting Pakistan as a part of their mission, a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman said today.

He said Mr Ibrahimi would pay a visit to the region only after going to Iran. The mission would remain incomplete if he did not visit Afghanistan, added the spokesman.

"We will extend every possible cooperation to Mr Ibrahimi. Our purpose is to be helpful to the UN and the OIC so that this mission is successful. We earnestly hope that present difficulties will soon be over and a peaceful solution through diplomatic means, political contacts and dialogue will be reached,’’ he added.

"Wisdom and sagacity’’ demand that all of us work together to ensure continued peace and stability in the interest of the region. On the other hand, a deterioration in the situation would not help anybody and it would destabilise the region.

The spokesman urged the Taliban to expeditiously complete investigations into the killings of the Iranian personnel in Mazar-e-Sharif. The Iranian Government had informed Pakistan that they had sent home some non-essential staff and families from Pakistan. It has been mentioned that their security concerns had prompted this temporary measure.’’

The spokesman said: "We would like to show our understanding and respect for their decision. On the other hand, our own embassy and school in Teheran are functioning normally."

KABUL (AP): Warning of a "devastating" war with Iran, the Taliban religious army today wrote to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan seeking his intervention.

"The Foreign Ministry... requests your excellency once again to use your influence and authority for the amicable solution of the differences (with Iran)," the letter said.

Without this solution, the letter warned "the entire region will become engulfed by a devastating war."

The Taliban Army’s Foreign Ministry said the letter follows the incursion of Iranian fighter jets and helicopters into the Afghan air space yesterday.

Iran has amassed 2,70,000 soldiers on its western border with Afghanistan and has been conducting massive military manoeuvres in the region, rolling hundreds of tanks toward the border with Afghanistan and bombing mock targets nearby.

The massive deployment of Iranian soldiers was Teheran’s response to the killings in August of eight Iranian diplomats and an Iranian journalist in Afghanistan’s northern Mazar-e-Sharif. The Iranians were killed by the invading Taliban soldiers.

While Iran is demanding an apology from the Taliban Army, the Taliban is refusing, calling the slain diplomats "conspirators."

Meanwhile the Taliban’s opponents and Iran accuses Pakistan of supporting the Taliban.

Late last week just as Iran prepared to begin its military manoeuvres on the border with Afghanistan, it sent home its non-essential personnel and several family members from Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the Foreign Ministry spokesman Tariq Altaf told reporters that Teheran cited "security concerns" for the withdrawal.

"We have been told... that they have sent home some families and some non-essential staff," Mr Altaf said in Islamabad. "It has been mentioned that their security concerns have prompted this temporary measure."

He refused to elaborate.

"We would like to show our understanding and respect for their decision, but our own embassy in Teheran and our school there is functioning normally," he said.

Pakistan routinely denies aiding the Taliban.

However, the UN has repeatedly said that the aid to all sides in Afghanistan’s protracted and bitter conflict is the key reason for its continuation.

In an attempt to soothe tempers in the region, the UN is sending its special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. The envoy begins his peace mission to the region in Teheran and then to Pakistan.

It’s not immediately clear whether Mr Brahimi will visit Afghanistan also, but Pakistan believes it is a must.

"We believe his mission will remain incomplete if he doesn’t visit Afghanistan," said Mr Altaf.