TEHRAN Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan Mohammad Mehdi Akhundzadeh said, Iran as the chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is fully determined to concentrate its efforts in order to bring peace to Afghanistan. The Iranian diplomat made the remarks in a meeting with Pakistani Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs Iftikhar Murshid in Islamabad Monday, on the eve of the latter's visit to Iran. Referring to the upcoming new round of Afghan peace negotiation, Akhundzadeh added that the Islamic Republic of Iran regards political negotiation as the only way to restore peace in Afghanistan. According to IRNA, the Iranian ambassador also deemed the Irano-Pakistani cooperation as important in this regard.

In the meeting, Iftikhar Murshid briefed Akhundzadeh on latest Afghan developments and the outcome of the recent visit to Pakistan of the Washington's special envoy. Iftikhar Murshid arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to exchange views with the Iranian officials on latest Afghan developments, following the visit to Pakistan of the U.S. representative to the United Nations. Also, a reliable source said here Monday that Murshid is carrying a message from the Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for the Iranian officials.

(IRNA)