ISLAMABAD (June 08 2007): Pakistan may slap a ban on trips of prominent government functionaries and officials to Iran until these are not cleared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Pakistan Mission in Tehran, official sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday.

"Currently regime in Iran is facing political problems and isolation in the region and trying to negate this impression at home. For this purpose, Iranian diplomatic missions in neighbouring countries, especially in Pakistan are inviting a wide variety of politicians, opinion makers, federal, provincial ministers and senior officials to visit Iran," the sources quoted Pakistan ambassador to Tehran as saying in a letter to Islamabad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is of the view that these invitations are mostly extended by the Iranian embassy directly and are accepted by the Pakistani invitees without consulting the Foreign Office or informing Pakistan Mission in Tehran.

"We come to know at the eleventh hour which obviously creates problems especially for our mission in Tehran that has to make appropriate arrangements at their end," the sources quoted the Foreign Affairs Ministry as saying.

Similarly, Pakistani public figurers also frequently attend seminars and conferences organised by Iranian government over a range of issues from Palestine, Gulf security to the role of political Islam.

Invariably, such seminars or conferences are oriented to project Iranian policies on these issues. Moreover, Iranian media's coverage of the view expressed by Pakistani participants on such occasions is angled to endorse Iran's position on these topics even where it is at variance with ours, the sources further added.

The Foreign Ministry is also of the view that when it comes to politicians or parliamentarians and personalities, who are not affiliated with the government, observance of political or diplomatic propriety in acceptance or availing of such invitations can be expected.

However, in the case of public figures and senior officials affiliated with the government, obtaining Foreign Ministry's views and informing Pakistan Mission to Tehran, prior to acceptance and availing of invitations, would help avoiding problems in organising such visits. Moreover, that would also enable the Foreign Ministry to adjust the frequency of such visits to the genuine requirements of Pak-Iran bilateral relations rather than the exclusive and expedient political needs of the Iranian government, the sources continued.

The sources said that Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly recommended that necessary guidelines or directives may be issued to all the ministries and division for consulting Foreign Office and informing Pakistan Mission to Tehran prior to accepting such invitations and availing them.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2007