The resolution of all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, is essential for sustaining India-Pakistan relations on a long-term basis, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said today.

"While Pakistan remained committed to normalising its relations with India, to sustain these relations on a long-term basis, it was essential that the two countries addressed all their outstanding issues, including Kashmir, in a meaningful way," Khar said.

She made the remarks while briefing envoys of Asian countries about the Pakistan government's perspective and approach towards its neighbours and the broader region.

The Indian envoy was among those who attended the meeting.

Khar further said that "despite difficult relations in the past, Pakistan strongly believed that the only way forward was through building trust and confidence" with India.

The "regional pivot" of the Pakistan government is based on wide political consensus that the challenges and complexities facing the country can only be addressed by "improving and deepening relations with all its neighbours, both immediate and distant", she said.

Pakistan had been focusing on improving relations with its immediate neighbours and with all Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries, as well as with Russia and Turkey.

Pakistan already enjoys "exemplary relations" with China based on "complete trust and convergence of strategic interests", she said.

With Iran, Pakistan has "further invested in deepening its friendship and cooperation", Khar said.

While discussing Afghanistan, Khar said peace and stability in that country was essential for peace and stability in Pakistan and the broader region.

She briefed the envoys about various initiatives Pakistan had taken at the request of Afghan High Peace Council to facilitate an "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of peace and reconciliation".

Referring to regional connectivity, Khar said Pakistan fully supports energy projects like CASA-1000, TAPI and Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project as well as the extension of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement to Central Asian countries.