ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Thursday that Pakistan is pursuing a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan and expects the same from other countries in the region.

Talking to reporters in Islamabad today, Aziz said that there are prospects of dialogue between the Afghan government and different groups in the coming days and Pakistan desires an early start of talks for peace and stability.

The Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs said Pakistan is only playing the role of facilitator in the reconciliation process and persuading the groups it has contacts with to start the dialogue process.

He said Pakistan is pursuing a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan and hoped it will be followed by other regional countries.

Aziz said Afghanistan needs help for economic development but has to resolve the political issues on its own.

He said Pakistan wants strong trade and economic relations with Afghanistan as part of its policy of peaceful neighborhood and that a series of steps have been taken to remove trade impediments and enhance trade volume with Afghanistan.

Sartaj Aziz pointed out that mineral resources in Afghanistan are enormous and hoped the international community will extend a helping hand for the exploitation and utilisation of these resources.

"Engagements with all neighbouring countries have been enhanced in order to achieve this objective,'' he added.

The senior politician said both Afghanistan and Pakistan are also pursuing liberal visa policy to give impetus to trade and economic relations.

Also read: Altaf in focus as British envoy, Nisar meet

Answering a question about the registration of case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussain, the Aziz confirmed that Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had held a meeting with British High Commissioner to Pakistan Philip Barton on Wednesday and handed over some "necessary documents" to him about the case.

Rangers officials had filed a case against Altaf Hussain on Tuesday for threatening the paramilitary force.

Rangers spokesperson Col Tahir Mehmood, who filed the case against the political party, claimed that following the raid on MQM Headquarters in Karachi's Azizabad neighbourhood, Altaf – in an interview on Geo News – threatened members of the paramilitary force who were involved in the operation.