ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The prime minister’s advisor on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz has said that Pakistan is pursuing the policy of non-interference in Afghanistan and hoped this policy will also be followed by other regional countries.
Talking to media representatives and addressing a conference on Afghanistan in Islamabad in Islamabad on Thursday, the advisor said that Pakistan desires early start of talks between the Afghan government and different Afghan groups for peace and stability.
The advisor said that Pakistan is only playing the role of facilitator in the reconciliation process and persuading the groups it has contacts with to start the dialogue process.
“There are prospects of dialogue between Afghan government and different groups in the coming days,” Sartaj Aziz said.
Sartaj Aziz said that Afghanistan needs lot of help for economic development but it has to resolve the political issues on its own.
“Pakistan wants strong trade and economic relations with Afghanistan as part of its policy of peaceful neighborhood,” he said adding that engagements with the neighboring countries have been enhanced in order to achieve this objective.
The premier’s advisor said that a series of steps have been taken to remove trade impediments and enhance volume of trade with the neighboring country. He said that both the countries are also pursuing liberal visa policy to give impetus to trade and economic relations.
In addition, he pointed out that mineral resources in Afghanistan are enormous and hoped the international community will extend a helping hand for the exploitation and utilization of these resources.
