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Attack on Iran will have devastating consequences: Kasuri

LONDON April 28(APP) Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmoud Kasuri said on Thursday the international community should work out a "varifiable inspection regime" to deal with the Iranian crisis because an attack on Tehran would have "devastating consequences" for peace and security of the world. Addressing a press conference at Pakistan High Commission here he said Tehran had not indicated that such a regime would not be acceptable to it. Iranian nuclear crisis, he said, should be resolved in a way which both addressed the concerns of the international community and take care of the national sentiments of Iran. Pakistan's envoy to London Dr. maleeha Lodhi was present on the occasion.

He said among the options being considered by the international community, the "worst" would be a possible attack on Tehran. Pakistan, he said, enjoyed deep cultural and historical bilateral relations with Iran hence it would not like to see an unstable situation on its another border. He said instability in Afghanistan had far reaching impact on Pakistan as it had to look after over three million Afghan refugees. Referring to the possibility of the imposition of sanctions on Tehran, Kasuri said it could send the oil prices spiralling which in return would have serious effect on the world economy.

However he said Iran should fulfill its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Answering a question on the possibility of reaching an agreement with India over the issue of Siachen glacier and Sir Creek, Kasuri said, there were chances for a headway on it. He said Islamabad considered that a settelement on these two issues could be relatively easy but it was premature to say whether the two countries could reach such an agreement or not. Kasuri said until the outstanding issues were resolved, the current thaw and a good ambience in relations between Pakistan and India could degenerate.

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