Khawaja Asif to visit China to discuss US' Afghan policy

Islamabad: Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif will leave for China on an important official visit on September 8 to discuss the United States policy review for South Asia and Afghanistan, along with President Donald Trump’s allegations that there are safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan.

In addition to the China visit, the Pakistani delegation will visit Russia, Iran and Turkey to consolidate its foreign policy and ties with allies in order to give a befitting response to the US administration.

In the first week after Id al-Adha, Khawaja Asif will visit China. The Central Asian countries will be taken into confidence to develop regional strategies.

Afterwards, he will leave for Turkey, Iran and Russia. Official visits to these states have been finalised by the ministry of foreign affairs. China and Russia had come forward in support of Pakistan after President Trump’s accusations.

According to sources at foreign office, Islamabad was not in favour of worsening relations with the United States. The foreign office said that the armed forces will continue their role in war against terrorism.

“Afghan issue will be sorted out with the help of dialogue with regional forces and it is important for these forces to play their role in achievement of peace,” an official said.

It was further mentioned that Pakistan wiped out terrorism from its soil and took steps to achieve peace with neighbouring Afghanistan. “It would have been better if the US had admitted its defeat in Afghanistan,” the official added.

A Joint session of the National Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution denouncing the US President Donald Trump’s allegations. “American President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statements are threatening, we reject America s new Afghan policy,” the summary of the resolution read.