ISLAMABAD: Days after Afghan Taliban announced launch of their ‘spring offensive’, Pakistan on Thursday urged the group to join the peace process and take part in dialogue. “It is in the interest of all groups in Afghanistan to participate in the process as this is the best hope to bring peace in Afghanistan and the entire region,” Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakariya said in his weekly briefing in Islamabad. “We believe a politically negotiated settlement is the best option for bringing lasting peace to Afghanistan.” On Pakistan-India relations, the spokesperson said the two countries are in contact and modalities for the resumption of secretary-level dialogue are under discussion. He said that Pakistan’s joint investigation team (JIT) on Pathankot visited the affected airbase and shared necessary information with India. He said that investigation were still going on. The spokesperson said that Pakistan was against the armed race, either conventional or non-conventional, in the region. But, on the other side, he said, India is seeking a lot of weapons. He said that Iran was a brotherly neighbouring country who have made it clear that their land will not be allowed to be used against Pakistan. After the lifting of sanctions against Iran, both countries have a lot of opportunities for mutual economic cooperation, he said, and added that the leadership of both countries has already declared to stand by each other.