'Pakistan wants broad-based relations with US for shared objective of peace in region'

Both the countries have a convergence of views and interests on a number of key issues, adds the FO spokesperson

Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said on Friday that Pakistan considered the United States a friend and wanted broad-based relations to achieve the shared objective of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.

The statement came from the spokesperson during the weekly press briefing in Islamabad during which Chaudhri further said that Pakistan and the US have a history of close cooperative relations that served the interests of both countries.

"Both the countries have a convergence of views and interests on a number of key issues including the ongoing Afghan Peace Process," he said. "We both believe that there’s no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and we both want to see peace in Afghanistan."

Chaudhri added that Pakistan and the US support an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan through a process that is owned and led by Afghans themselves.

On August 11, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had continued his allegations against Pakistan yet Islamabad's attitude remained 'positive'.

“We want improvement in Afghanistan”, the FM had said, adding that the Afghan people themselves want peace.

According to him, Pakistan’s role in the Afghan peace process has been positive and he elaborated that a Pakistani delegation is currently in Doha and involved in peace talks.

“Our positive role and efforts for peace are not hidden from anyone, and today the world is appreciating Pakistan’s conciliatory efforts for Afghan peace”, he remarked.

The foreign minister also spoke of unnamed 'forces' in the region that are working against peace and need to be monitored.

“Attempts are being made to hold Pakistan responsible for the situation in Afghanistan”, he said, adding that a faction outside of Afghanistan is "playing the role of the spoiler”.

The minister reiterated that Pakistan is “part of a global consensus” and has the same “goal” of peace. “Our efforts for peace will continue.”