Islamabad, Feb 16: Terming as "abrupt" Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali's cancellation of his Tehran visit, former premier Benazir Bhutto's PPP has said it demonstrated the failure of his military-backed government's foreign policy even as the party voiced concern over Indo-Iran defence cooperation.
"The abrupt, unceremonious and unexplained cancellation of the visit of Prime Minister Jamali to Iran just a few hours before he was to board the plane to Tehran has demonstrated once again that foreign policy under the military regime of General Musharraf has miserably failed," the PPP said in a statement.
Jamali was secheduled to depart for Iran on a 3-day visit today but cancelled it citing pressing engagements at home.
Branding Jamali as the "messenger" of Pakistan's military rulers, the PPP said "it is a failure of foreign policy that despite joining the war against terror, Islamabad continues to face growing isolation on the international stage."
The party said "it is worrying that our neighbour and friend Iran is drawing closer to New Delhi as is evident from the visit of President Khatami to India on its Republic Day celebrations" during which the two countries held talks aimed at enhancing bilateral defence cooperation and agreed to enhance navy-to-navy cooperation. Bureau Report