Jordan Times
Friday, March 10, 2006
Jordan, Pakistan call
for diplomacy in Iran nuke row
King, Aziz discuss Mideast issues, means to enhance bilateral relations
AMMAN (Agencies) — Jordan and Pakistan on Thursday called for a negotiated
settlement of Iran's nuclear crisis with the West and agreed to boost efforts
against terrorism.
“We would like to see the nuclear issue solved in a diplomatic manner. We have
enough problems in the region,” Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit was quoted by
Agence France-Presse as telling reporters at a joint news conference with his
Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz.
“All stakeholders should sit around and use all their diplomatic skills to solve
this issue,” said Aziz, who was on a one-day visit to Amman. He added, however,
that countries have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The
two countries also signed agreements to scrap double taxation, promote tourism
and boost consultations on major world developments. Bakhit said they examined
means to take bilateral ties “to a higher level” and establish “a strategic
dialogue” that would include political, economic, military and security issues.
“Pakistan and Jordan share a common sense of purpose in fighting terrorism,”
Aziz said.
Aziz also dismissed Afghan accusations that his country was harbouring pro-Taleban
militants.
“The question of any country harbouring people who are conducting activities
prejudicial to the security of that country are very unfounded,” he said. Aziz,
who also held talks with King Abdullah, said that Amman and Islamabad agreed to
unite forces to narrow the gap between the Western and Muslim world and promote
“inter-faith understanding.” “The recent issue of the blasphemous caricatures
have hurt the sentiment of the Muslim community everywhere. We need to explain
to the world that Islam is a faith that practices peace, inter-faith harmony and
moderation,” Aziz said.
“We talked about the need to project Islam in its true light. The Muslim `ummah'
[nation] needs `ittihad' [unity]. The Muslim ummah needs its voice to be heard.”
Violent protests swept Pakistan in recent weeks after the publication in Denmark
of cartoons offensive to the Prophet Mohammad.
Talks between the King and Aziz focused on the Palestinian and Iraqi situations
as well as means to enhance bilateral ties, particularly economic cooperation,
the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
During the meeting, the Monarch said it was important to enhance the joint
Islamic action to face the current challenges, especially the misinterpretation
of the teachings of Islam by terrorist groups.