Iran willing to mediate on Kashmir

We have excellent relations with both Pakistan and India, foreign minister says

Iran on Saturday offered to mediate between Pakistan and India on the issue of Kashmir if the two rivals agreed to it, saying it wished to forge strong ties with both nations, the Press Trust of India reported.

“We have excellent relations with both Pakistan and India. We cannot lose that bond, it is too important,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was quoted as saying.



“We hope for the best of both countries. If Iran can be of any help, we stand ready, we are not volunteering, we stand ready,” he said responding to a question on whether Iran can play a mediator role in the Kashmir issue.

The Iranian minister said the three countries share common ideas of a future democratic international system.



“We hope we move forward to a better relationship between our very dear friends India and Pakistan,” Zarif said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2016.