Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said it was ready for mediation between the Afghan government and the Taliban. (AP Photo)
Pakistan on Thursday asked Washington to strike a balance in its policy towards South Asia if it was interested in having a dialogue between Pakistan and India and said it was ready for mediation between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Speaking at the second Kabul Process conference, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said that his government was ready to recognise the Taliban as a political group and offered unconditional talks with the militant group to “save the country”. The Afghan Taliban are a political entity and Pakistan supports the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif told journalists here.
“The talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government are actually discussions between two political forces, and Pakistan will support it…Pakistan is also ready for one-on-one mediation with the Afghan Taliban,” he said. He said Pakistan wants peace and stability in the neighbouring country, while stressing that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.
“The US can have an interest in Pak-India discussions, but before that it should create some balance in its South Asia policy,” he said. He also talked about the so-called “institutional interests” in Pakistan and said that practice of portraying interests of institutions as the greater national interest “will also be changed soon”.
Asserting that Pakistan will frame its foreign policy keeping in view the national interests, Asif said, “We will not sacrifice our own interests for the protection of the interests of the United States.” “The effects of the 80s and the Musharraf era still exist, Pakistan will not make the same mistakes now to keep American interests above its own interests,” he said. He was referring to the military governments of General Zia-ul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf that allied with the US respectively in 1980s and after 9/11 to support it against erstwhile USSR and terrorism.
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- Mar 1, 2018 at 8:46 pmFirst Pakistan should learn to behave as a civilized society and before that they should mend their way .No Mediation required if Pakistan gives up two nation theory and if at all they treat themselves as guardians of one religion then should take back all those from India who are left behind and stop interfering in the internal matters of other country and stop supporting and training terrorists ,otherwise they will end with same fate as that of terrorists .Reply
Raman KayMar 1, 2018 at 8:46 pmWill not happen, any time soon! This dumb and stupid minister from Pakistan must be told India is not dependent on US setting its foreign policies. And, I reckon US will not listen to this joker from Pakistan.Reply- Indian SinghMar 1, 2018 at 8:03 pmSH T PA-KIS. When ever PA-KIS come under PRESSURE from USA for supporting TALIBAN against US SOLDIERS in Afghanistan, PA-KIS starts firing along indian Border. ..................... And then talk of "BALANCED SOUTH ASIA POLICY" to USA. .......... If USA KICK PA-KIS HARD enough, the Afghan problem will be solved in 60 days.Reply
- Mar 1, 2018 at 7:22 pmPlease don't try to equate Pakistan with India, We have more looters(more to come) than in your country and their collective amount is more than your country's average GDP.Reply
- Mar 1, 2018 at 7:36 pmPretty depressing thoughts you are having about our country.. All the scams and FIGURES of the scams are orchestrated. The press ute media does the rest. This is what HAPPENS WHEN CONGRESS PAID MEDIA CONSTATLY BOMBARDS US WITH NEGATIVE NEGATIVE NEAGATIVE NEWS 24-7... I would recommend stop watching the so Called NEWS CHANNELS.Reply
- Mar 1, 2018 at 7:09 pmThis man is of below average intelligence. On top of that, he was born with his foot in this mouth. He is the fecal mouthwash that Pakistan uses. When he speaks his arrogance shows. The twist of the burnt rope is still visible in this man's statements. For once Pakistan should focus internally and try to work on their starving masses, instead, they have a itch in their bottoms which prompts them to be meddlesome in the region. This dufus needs to be told to first put his own house in order.Reply
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