Those nurturing terrorists should put an end to it: Iran

New Delhi, Feb 9 (PTI) In an apparent reference to
Pakistan, Iran Monday said the countries "nurturing"
terrorists have a responsibility of putting an end to such
activities even as it asked New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve
their differences through talks without involving "foreign
forces".

Iranian Ambassador Seyed Mehdi Nabizadeh said his country
could have a role in helping in the negotiations between India
and Pakistan.

"Iran, India and Pakistan, all have condemned these
attacks (in Mumbai), All our three countries (India, Pakistan
and Iran) are suffering from such terrorist attacks," he told
reporters here when asked about Iran's position on the Mumbai
attacks considering that India had urged it to put pressure on
Pakistan to act.

"The countries that are nurturing these terrorists have a
responsibility to put a stop to all that," the Ambassador said
without naming any nation but apparently referring to
Pakistan.

Favouring a dialogue between India and Pakistan, he said
"I believe that negotiations are going on well" between them
and "I am sure that India and Pakistan will reach some sort of
agreement."

"We, as friends of India and Pakistan, have a role to
play in pushing ahead these negotiations," he said.

The Iranian Ambassador, however, underlined that
countries besides the region should be kept away from any such
negotiations between India and Pakistan.

"Involvement of foreign forces in negotiations and
relations between the two neighbouring countries will not help
in establishment of peace," Nabizadeh said.

"We feel that the two countries and secondly the regional
countries should play a role in resolving these issues," he
said.

India had earlier sought to reach out Iran, asking it to
put pressure on Pakistan to act and ensure that culprits of
the Mumbai attacks are punished.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Mehdi
Akhoundzadeh, who undertook a visit here soon after the Mumbai
attacks to discuss the issue, had said Pakistan should make a
"strong commitment" to end terrorism and "There should be a
serious probe to see who designed and perpetrated (the Mumbai
attacks). They should be unearthed, no matter where they are."

He had also said India and Pakistan should respond in a
"mature" manner to the Mumbai attacks and not allow the
incident to derail their ties. PTI AKK
SAK