LAHORE: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said Pakistan was ready to extend all-out support to Afghanistan for achieving stability in the region and that Islamabad wanted the Taliban leaders to join the political process by taking part in the election.
Speaking to a local media outlet, Qureshi said the United States desired Pakistan’s role for an intra-Afghan dialogue for which the Prime Minister committed to play his role to convince the Taliban leadership.
He said the Prime Minister categorically stated that the notion of strategic depth is outdated as the country is ready to extend all-out assistant for Afghan peace.
He said Pakistan wants the ballot to replace the bullet in Afghanistan and also desires Taliban leaders to join the political process by taking part in elections.
Speaking about Kashmir, he said India’s adamant attitude on Kashmir issue will cost the country dearly as the situation in the occupied territory was deteriorating with every passing day.
He said the offer of mediation by US President Donald Trump during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Washington was more than Pakistan’s expectations.
He said the matter of US mediation on Kashmir was initiated by India, though the Modi regime is now backtracking from it following a hue and cry in his country’s political circles.
The foreign minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan made the US realized that Kashmir was a flashpoint which required an early resolution.
He said the US president was informed that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and desires peace in the region, including with India.