ISLAMABAD:Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has welcomed the dialogue offer made by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to the Taliban.
Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Thursday, he said Afghan Taliban are a political entity and Pakistan supports the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
The foreign minister said Pakistan desires peace and stability in the neighboring country. He stressed there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict.
Responding to a question, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that Pakistan will frame its foreign policy keeping in view the national interests. He said we will not sacrifice our own interests for the protection of the interests of the United States.
The foreign minister also asked Washington to strike a balance in its policy towards South Asia.
Earlier, addressing a seminar in connection with China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan-China friendship has presented an excellent concept of cooperation in Asia.
He pointed out that under the corridor project, special economic zones are being set up across the country which will benefit the investors. He said several coal based power projects will be completed this year while work on Gwadar airport started.
In his remarks on the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing said that both the private sector and the investors are now contributing to the CPEC. He said the mega project has given a new dimension to Sino-Pak relations.APP/AFP