Islamabad would welcome US President-elect Donald Trump if he offers to play the role of mediator between Pakistan and India, the Foreign Office said.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing on Thursday, FO spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that on several occasions during his election campaign, Trump had offered to play the role of mediator as tensions escalated between the two countries on account of the situation in Kashmir.
About the telephone call between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Trump, Zakaria said the premier's call to the US president-elect was only a courtesy call.
He said that if Trump visited Pakistan, the country would welcome him, adding that Islamabad's ties with Washington should be viewed in their historical context.
"We value our ties with the US and wish for them to progress," Zakaria said.
Speaking in reference to the upcoming Heart of Asia conference in India, Zakaria said: "Pakistan is participating in the Heart of Asia Conference because we want to fulfil our role for peace and stability in Afghanistan."
"Pakistan will do all it can for peace in the region," he added.
The spokesman said that as far as bilateral ties with India were concerned, Pakistan remained open to dialogue but India had "always placed conditions for talks to proceed between the countries".
The FO spokesman added that "whenever a dialogue is held between Islamabad and New Delhi, all outstanding issues will be discussed".
Zakaria added that the Kashmiri people's "struggle for self-determination had now entered "its fifth month".
