Pakistan not to sacrifice own interests for American interests: FM

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Thursday said his country will not sacrifice its own interests for the protection of the interests of the United States.

Khawaja Asif said this is while talking to media persons during a seminar on “The economic benefits of the modern silk road-CPEC” organized by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) at a local hotel in Islamabad.

Responding to a question, he said that Pakistan will frame its foreign policy keeping in view the national interests.

Asif welcomed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s offer to seek peace through dialogue with the Taliban.

On Wednesday, during a peace conference in Kabul, the Afghan president offered unconditional peace talks and called on the Taliban to shun violence and become a political party.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif 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.

He added that Pakistan will not take any dictation from anyone if it goes against its national interests.

Earlier in the minister addressing the seminar, he pointed out that under the corridor project, special economic zones will be set up across the country which will benefit the investors.

Khawaja Asif said that several coal-based power projects will be completed this year, while work on Gwadar airport will soon be started.

The foreign minister, however, said that the situation in Afghanistan is an impediment in the way of regional connectivity.

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 that the mega project has given a new dimension to Sino-Pak relations.