Pakistan expects China to play a "bigger role" in persuading India to hold a sustainable dialogue with it to resolve Kashmir and other issues, the country's top envoy in Beijing has said.
"We hope China will, over time, be able to persuade India to have sustainable dialogue with Pakistan for the resolution of all outstanding issues, including Kashmir," Pakistan's Ambassador to China Masood Khan told state-run Global Times in an interview.
His comments assume significance as it comes just hours before the crucial talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in New Delhi.
He said Pakistan also expects China to play a bigger role in promoting peace and stability in the region. Pakistan had earlier indicated that it would seek China's intervention in the peace process between the two countries.
But, India has all along been against any third-party intervention.
After his India visit, Wen will head to Pakistan on Friday on a three day visit to hold wide-ranging talks with the Pakistani leadership.
Khan said China-Pakistan strategic alliance, often described as "all weather friendship" by both sides remained unaffected by "many changes" that have taken place in both countries.
{{/usCountry}}Khan said China-Pakistan strategic alliance, often described as "all weather friendship" by both sides remained unaffected by "many changes" that have taken place in both countries.
{{/usCountry}}"Many changes have taken place in both Pakistan and China since the two countries established diplomatic ties 60 years ago. Our friendship has remained unaffected by these changes, and our ties have soared to new heights with every passing year.
"The most important thing we have achieved over this period is the complete political reliability between our sides," he said.