Iran offers to mediate in bringing the Kashmir conflict to an end

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in an interview to Press TV, Iran’s state television news channel has called for the need to respect the rights of the people of Kashmir in ‘determining their own destiny’ and offered to mediate and play a “constructive role” in bringing the conflict to an end.

Responding to a question on “what has been the policy of president Rouhani” and what does he tell India about the situation, Zarif said, “our policy has been very clear. We emphasise the need to respect the rights of people of all places, including Kashmiris, their human rights, their right to determine their own destiny.”

“We have been in constant dialogue with our friends in India and our friends in Pakistan about how we can play a constructive role in bringing this conflict to an end, in the interests of the people of Kashmir. And we have always insisted on the need to respect the rights of the Kashmiri people and that continues to be our policy.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry in Spetember 2020 had expressed concerns over the tear-gassing and pellet firing on a Muharram procession in Kashmir’s Srinagar and Budgam districts.

“While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to Aba Abdullah [Imam Hussein (AS)] and mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussein have been held quietly across India, reports of Ashura mourners being injured in Kashmir are very worrying,” Saeed Khatibzadeh, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry had said.

The spokesman had also called on the Indian government to investigate the “Ashura attack” and to provide medical assistance to the injured immediately, Iran’s English daily, Tehran Times had reported.