ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Monday categorically dispelled an impression of Pakistan’s international isolation, saying it was pursuing an active foreign policy for promoting and protecting its national interests in the changing geo-strategic situation in the region. Sartaj Aziz said if seen in a big picture, the United States was following a policy of containing China in this region and had developed close relations with India, due to their insecurities concerning both China and Russia. As Pakistan’s future was linked to this region, it had to balance its relations with all its neighbours and other countries. Aziz said the peace process in Afghanistan was deadlocked and could take time to restart. Despite 15 years of war in Afghanistan, peace could not be restored there; it would come through dialogue. Afghan Taliban who might not be able to capture Kabul but had the ability to continue fighting. They would only agree to hold talks if they were losing the battle. However, he made it clear it was not in the hands of Pakistan to bring all the Afghan Taliban groups to a negotiating table. It was, however, ready to facilitate a dialogue process to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan. Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan had some influence over Taliban, but since the Zarb-e Azb operation, the Taliban had mostly shifted to Afghanistan and most of their fighting capability was inside Afghanistan now. Aziz said it was too early to say when the dialogue could begin again, but Pakistan would continue efforts towards that end, and talks had to be between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Moreover, Pakistan did not want to escalate tension with India and its objective was to avoid further tensions with its neighbor. He said it was not acceptable to Pakistan that despite being a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (NPT), India should become its member. Pakistan therefore had emphasised that a criteria-based approach should be followed as both Pakistan and India had not signed NPT. Hence, if India was to become an NSG member, Pakistan should also be given this opportunity. India being granted unilateral membership would undermine strategic stability in the region.