Karachi: The Musharraf-led Pakistan Government had been discouraging Iran from developing nuclear weapons, US diplomatic cables unveiled by whistle-blower website WikiLeaks have revealed.
The May 2006 cables disclosed that on several occasions, the then President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told Iranian officials not to acquire nuclear weapons.
Pakistan also acted as a messenger between the United States and Iran, according to the documents.
The cables also revealed that in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and Vice President Parvaiz Davoodi, Musharraf said that Iran should roll back its nuclear program because it was creating difficulties for its neighbours, including Pakistan.
Pakistan also advised Iran not to make provocative statements against Israel.
The cables further stated that in a meeting with US Senator Chuck Hagel, the then Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said that one of the reasons for Islamabad piling on pressure on Iran was that Pakistan wanted to be the only Muslim country with nuclear weapons.
ANI
First Published: Saturday, July 09, 2011, 18:09