The US can’t afford another war in region
Local Wednesday, July 30th, 2008Former Pakistani secretary general of foreign affairs and former ambassador M. Akram Zaki said that US would not be able to sustain in the region with break up of ties with Pakistan and Iran.
Talking, Zaki said that the US has to develop good relations with Iran and Pakistan as it is a necessity.
The US is threatening Iran for a long time but the US has failed so far in Iraq and Afghanistan and thus it cannot afford to start another conflict with Iran, he said.
Akram Zaki was of the view that if the US attacks Iran then it will be a grave mistake and will place the whole area under a disastrous configuration.
He said war in the region would create a great economic instability in the world as there could be a stoppage of Iranian oil.
“The US will try to go for backdoor diplomacy and I would not be surprised if US will establish some kind of working relationship with Iran,” he said.
He added that Washington is threatening Pakistan that it would attack Pakistani tribal region if Pakistan failed to stop Taliban from entering into Afghanistan.
“But I think the US is not foolish enough to order its military troops to enter Pakistan for military operation, rather they would keep pressurizing Pakistan to carry out operation in the tribal regions with its own army,” he said.
Akram Zaki added that the situation in Afghanistan is against occupation forces and they are blaming Pakistan for not stopping Taliban.
To a question about the US reaction towards Iran’s nuclear program, he said that Iran is signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has a right to explore its nuclear resources for peaceful means.
India is not a signatory to NPT yet US is encouraging it to enrich its nuclear energy, this is an arrogant approach and the US is just following dual policy, he said.
He said that the US and India are creating troubles at Pak-Iran border.
India is creating trouble in Balochistan for Pakistan and Americans are creating troubles in Sistan for Iran.
He suggested that Iran and Pakistan must cooperate with each other for securing peace in the region.
“I suggest that both Iran and Pakistan should directly talk to each other to resolve the issues related to border security,” he said.
Zaki has an outstanding record of distinguished public service as a career diplomat and as a Senator.
During his diplomatic career he served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, the USA, Nigeria, the Philipines and later became the Secretary General for Foreign Affairs.
Currently he is Chairman of the Pakistan-Europe (EU) Friendship Association inaugurated in October 2000.
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on Jul 30 2008. Filed under