Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – November 6, 1995

The issue of Ishak Rabin's death is still at the top of the news. [Mr. Seyed Heshmat Mousavi], representative of Ilam, came. He appreciated the extensive construction measures of the government in Ilam and requested to speed up my trip there. [Mr. Mashhadi], the governor, [Mohammed Baqer Tawakli], the representative and [Haider Ali Jalali Khomeini], the imam of Juma Khomein, came and while reporting the extensive construction works of the government and that the last villages will get electricity and water this year, they asked for help to curb the seasonal waters and increase the cultural credits. Akhvi Mohammad, [executive vice president] came. He gave the report of his trip to Ilam and Kermanshah and said that the reconstruction in Ilam is very extensive and even more than what is needed, and it should be followed up in Kermanshah.

We went to the [Mehrabad] airport to welcome [Ms. Benazir Bhutto], the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He arrived on time and after a short interview, he went to visit Imam's shrine. I went to the office. In the evening, I watched some of Robin's funeral on CNN. There were a large number of heads of Western countries and several heads of Islamic countries, such as Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, etc.; It was interesting. Israel has been greatly valued. For about five hours, all the heads of countries have spent their time in the ceremony and mostly in the cemetery.

I went to Saadabad. We had private talks with Mrs. [Benazir] Bhutto, in the presence of Dr. Velayati and one of her companions, and the whole discussion was about Afghanistan. He talked a lot to justify us about their relationship with the Taliban, but in the end he could not answer my questions. I said, we also agreed that the solution in Afghanistan should be political and not military, and also in Islamabad, you said that you do not accept the Taliban, and inviting Mr. Rabbani was a proof of the legitimacy of his government in your opinion. Now the Taliban have chosen the military path and you have accepted it. He tried to answer, but finally it became clear that they had no answer; We decided to find a solution.

The question is, first a ceasefire and then negotiations for a solution, or first Rabbani's resignation and then negotiations, where we accept the first and they accept the second. Then, it was official and public negotiations about regional issues and bilateral cooperation that we became creditors. Then we went to the dinner table and the negotiations continued. He asked for our help to prevent sectarian conflicts in Pakistan and explained about the Karachi crisis and problems with India.