With violence engulfing major cities in Syria, including Damascus and Aleppo, Pakistan has voiced its opposition to any “coercive” measures in Syria which could worsen an already volatile situation in the troubled country.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar made these remarks at a hurriedly called ministerial level consultative meeting on Syria which opened in the Iranian capital on Thursday. The meeting, held a few days before an extraordinary summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called by Saudi Arabia on Syria, demonstrates the strained relations between the two Middle East powers.
Attended by delegates from 28 countries, the conference is seen as Iran’s attempt to garner support against regime change in Syria. The conference is seeking to find a sustainable solution to the burgeoning humanitarian crisis after the United Nations failed to rein in the warring parties.
In her opening statement, Foreign Minister Khar reiterated the need to find mutually agreeable political solution to the impending crisis saying that prolonged instability in Syria would have serious consequences for the Muslim Ummah.
Khar explained why Pakistan abstained from voting for the UN resolution on Syria last month, saying that Pakistan opposed any outside intervention which could worsen an already complex situation.
Highlighting Pakistan’s belief in the principles of territorial integrity and respect for national sovereignty of member states, the foreign minister said that “we also need to be mindful that the way we deal with any particular crisis becomes a precedent to be emulated in future.”
Hosting Iranian Foreign Minister Minister Ali Akbar Salehi reiterated that Tehran firmly believes that the Syrian crisis can only be resolved through serious and inclusive talks between the government and opposition groups that enjoy popular support in Syria.
International attempts to negotiate a peace deal broke down after UN special envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan, resigned from his post, citing finger pointing and lack of sincerity in working towards a peaceful resolution.
The deepening crisis, which has resulted in approximately 17,000 deaths so far, is threatening to hurl the country in to civil war as opposition to Bashar Assad’s regime gains force. (With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2012.
COMMENTS (28)
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Saudia, US, UK, Qatar, Turkey and Israel on one side. Black and white starting to be more clearer day by day.
The shuttle diplomacy of Iran's foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi led him to Ankara to hold talks with Turkish leaders. Last Thursday an international meeting on Syria was held in Tehran. Iran might be reluctant to let Assad fall. Yet it is astute enough to realise that he has no future in Syria. After all Iran doesn't want to be a loser in this conflict and in the region, so it's also trying to solve the crisis in Syria the best it can.
Some Facts: 1. US, Israel and West are against Syrian regime because he is not pro US like other Arab countries. 2. Dictators are running the affairs of government in Saudia and Bahrain, why the west are silent?
@Naeem: What about dictatorship in Bahrain and Saudia Arabia? To some extent there is democracy in Iran.
@Was an Indian: India was invited.
She is scared that one day the same will be applied on Pakistan.....preventive measures!!
US is supporting Al Qaeda members in Syria which CIA trained to send wherever the find to intervene to save their interest. They are fighting against another faction in Afghanistan. Bravo US
There is no doubt that Iran will do its best to save Asad regime but Iran has very little influence on the events which are moving fast for both countries.
For example, the West and its allies in the Middle East, specially Royal Kindom Saudi Arabia, continue to support the Syrian Opposition factions to topple Asad's regime and make Iran much weaker and vulnerable if Israel gets its permission from the USA to attack Iran's nuclear power stations.
In both cases, Iran has to find a political solution to sustain its religious nationalism and a hostile policy against the West and the Americam Imperial Power.
Dr. Haidrani London
@kanwal: A "versatile gathering" of 28 fools lured to enhance the political ambitions of a weakening country, an international pariah, is not going to change the ground realities.
@GhostRider: @Was an Indian:
India was invited. Read ET news in the box on the right side of this news under heading "Iran Pushes for peace talks in Syria conference".
http://tribune.com.pk/story/420078/iran-pushes-for-peace-talks-in-syria-conference/
How come Pakistan can support outside interference, two words 'East Pakistan', Baluchistan situation can change rapidly as well with gulf countries helping separatists.
It is nothing more than Western attempts to pressurize regimes that oppose the western hegemony in the region. They are taking on one by one. We should all support Syrian regime against the mercenaries of the West.
Pakistan does not which side to stand by in crisis. It was unsure about Egypt and Libya, and now Syria. Pakistan needs to realize that democracy is the solution and all these dictators including that of Iran will fall one by one as social awareness increases in years and decades to come.
Once again, mouthing the American stance on Syria.
do they even believe that some land exists with the name BAHRAIN !!
Did anybody invite India??? I guess no so this tells what power Pakistan weilds in Middle East... so stop whining and focus on Nepal
Yep - when in doubt support the mass murdering Dictator cause who knows you might have one of your own in the future? What she should have done is made a public statement encouraging Assad to peacefully step down - not much downside in that.
No one invited India :(
However, it is OK for Pakistan to use same in other countries. List of countries is too long to write here. All these statements are for local consumption.
Pakistan is in a very, very difficult situation. Regime change in Syria is imminent. How Pakistan handles its fallout shall test its diplomatic skills.
It was a meeting called by Iran because Assad regime is now beleaguered but the countries they called other than odd few rest of them including Pakistan are non-players in the conflict with no influence o change course.
So what do you want to do ? Let killings continue.... Coercive ? What do you even mean by it
Pakistan is in a very difficult situation over Syria..one side there is Saudi Lobby backed by America and western powers who wants to arm rebels and are interested in outside interference..other side is Iranian lobby backed by Russia and china..who dont want any regime change in Syria..but the people of Syria are the once who are suffering..World powers should not play there proxy wars on the blood of poor Syrians...I think Pakistan's stance is logical and good for not supporting any international interference in Syria and let the Syrian people decide there future..First time I can see a Pakistan foreign policy not towing the Saudi and American line..
A good step from Iran to accumulate such a versatile gathering .
Here is the bottom line of the statement by FM Khar: Nothing. It was a classic irony: A brutally suppressive regime holds a conference in its capital to discuss the movement by the people of Syria for freedom from tyranny, and Pakistan’s foreign minister says something that amounts to nothing. But this statement does not do as much damage to the people of Syria than the fact that Pakistan went to the meeting. The world knows that Iranian regime will do anything to protect the butcher of Damascus, Bashar Assad, who has broken the record of tyranny set by his father. So Pakistan gave its tacit support to the crumbling Assad cult. Of course, one could not have expected Pakistan to stay away from this meeting. Its constitution statutorily discriminates against its minorities and its government is under the thumb of its generals, who to carry out their suppression of democracy no longer need to overthrow the government – thanks to the so-called judicial activism of their justices. So the foreign minister of this establishment goes to the capital of a suppressive regime to find a way to protect another suppressive regime. As I said: a classic irony. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.