Alt tag: A file photograph of Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali 'Efforts to resolve Iraq must continue' Islamabad: Pakistan on March 18 expressed disappointment at the failure of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over reaching consensus on Iraq and said diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis should continue despite US President George W Bush issuing an ultimatum asking Saddam Hussein to leave the country within 48 hours or face war.

Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said he was disappointed that the UN Security Council failed to reach a consensus over the Iraq issue.

Without directly reacting to Bush's decision on waging a war against Iraq without a UN sanction, Jamali said Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the Security Council would continue to make efforts to reach a diplomatic solution.

Jamali, who would visit Washington from March 26 to hold talks with Bush and other US officials, said the country had enough oil reserves to tide over the crisis in case of a war on Iraq.

Speaking to the state television, he said it was a matter of pride for the country that he was the first one to visit Beijing after the new Chinese leadership took over. He is visiting China for two-day beginning March 24.

PTI