WASHINGTON, Oct 19 Pakistan will safeguards its interests as it partners with the United States in the fight against militants, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on the eve of the strategic dialogue between the two countries.

The top Pakistani diplomat also renewed Islamabad's desire for a civilian nuclear technology deal with Washington.

In a speech at Harvard University's Institute of Politics in Boston, the minister also called upon the US to help resolve the Kashmir dispute in a bid to “remove one more source of Muslim discontent and anger, taking oxygen out of the terrorists' fire”.

“What we are trying to create is a long-term, mature and mutually beneficial partnership,” he said about the relations with the US.

“The dialogue, and the coordination of our policies, will define the direction and future of our bilateral relationship; as well as the success of the containment of terrorism and, quite possibly, the very future of the region,” Mr Qureshi said.

Nuclear technology

He said there was little justification for Iran to pursue nuclear technology and urged the neighbouring country to embrace overtures from the United States.

In some of Pakistan's strongest statements on Iran's nuclear programme, Mr Qureshi said that he wanted to avoid “another major crisis in the region”.

“In my view, I don't think they have a justification to go nuclear,” Mr Qureshi said. —Agencies