Pak against Taliban gaining control in Afghanistan: Qureshi

Washington, Mar.27 (ANI): Rejecting the notion that Islamabad is providing 'covert' support to the Taliban in Afghanistan against foreign forces, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said there was a time when his country was 'comfortable' with the Taliban government, but it now does not want the insurgents to take control of the neighbouring nation.

In an interview with the National Public Radio, Qureshi said Pakistan wants peace and stability in Afghanistan, and would take all necessary steps in this regard in accordance with the country's wishes.

"We are going to do whatever we can do to achieve the objective of a peaceful, stable, friendly Afghanistan," Qureshi said.

Qureshi insisted that since the establishment of a democratic government in the country things have changed and that Pakistan is striving to be a "moderate, democratic voice".

"What the American people need to understand is that people and democracy in Pakistan are getting their act together," he said.

Later, talking to reporters after a meeting with US Vice-President Joe Biden, Qureshi said after meeting the top US diplomats during the strategic dialogue he believes that the Obama Administration is committed to strengthen ties with Islamabad.

"We exchanged views on the discussions we had at the strategic dialogue and his (Biden's) expression of support reinforced my understanding that this administration is ready to turn bilateral relations into a partnership," Qureshi said.

Biden had dropped in a White House meeting between National Security Adviser James Jones and top Pakistani officials including Qureshi, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani and Pakistan's Ambassador in the US Hussain Haqqani. (ANI)