ISLAMABAD, 5 January 2008 — Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki visited Islamabad to pay his condolences in the wake of the killing of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. “Those who have done this crime have targeted the stability and security of Pakistan,” he said after visiting the headquarters of Benazir’s party.
“Extremism and terrorism has no place in the minds and in the hearts of the people of this region.” The stability of Pakistan, and the security of Pakistan will affect the whole region and vise versa, added Mottaki.The minister was due to visit Benazir’s hometown, Noudero, in the southern province of Sindh to express condolences to her family but canceled the trip over security concerns on the advice of the Pakistani government.
Mottaki vowed to eliminate extremism and terrorism from the region and said those involved in Benazir’s murder should be arrested and punished according to the law. Benazir was killed on Dec. 27 when an attacker shot at her with a pistol.
The Iranian minister also met President Pervez Musharraf, caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro and Foreign Minister Inamul Haq.
