Rowhani Describes Visit to India, Pakistan as "Positive"
Upon arrival at Mehrabad International Airport, he told reporters that regional security issues and expansion of bilateral cooperation were among the major topics discussed by the two countries' senior officials.
He said that during his talks with Indian officials he voiced Iran's concern over the India-Pakistan border dispute and the threats to regional security arising from heightened tensions characterizing relations between the two countries.
Both Pakistani and Indian officials were briefed on the Islamic Republic of Iran's views regarding any regional conflict, he said, adding that Tehran believes any war that may erupt in the region would be disastrous to all regional states and will only benefit outside forces.
He said he also voiced Tehran's opinion that New Delhi and Islamabad should try to resolve their existing problems through diplomatic means.
He noted that while tensions between Indian and Pakistani officials have been exceptionally high in recent weeks, both are not at all interested in a regional conflict.
The Islamic Republic of Iran-- a regional powerhouse-- should make use of all its strength to help settle the crisis, he stressed, adding that Tehran has offered to mediate to help resolve the two countries' dispute, IRNA reported.
After concluding his four-day official visit to India, Rowhani paid a short visit to Islamabad in order to inform Pakistani officials of New Delhi's latest stances regarding the border dispute. In Pakistan on Friday, the SNSC secretary met with President Pervez Musharraf who stressed that the Indo-Pak dispute over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has to be reconciled through dialogue which, he said, is the only means of achieving a "durable peace."
It was Rowhani's second visit to Pakistan in less than 13 months.
He visited Pakistan in May last year.
While in New Delhi, Rowhani held high-level security talks with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as well as Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh and Defense Minister George Fernandes on current concerns over Afghanistan and recent tensions between India and Pakistan.