Islamabad, Jul 25 (IANS): Pakistan would not accept the hegemony of any country in the region as it is "by no means inferior to India", Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who is scheduled to go to New Delhi Tuesday, has said.

"Pakistan's role in the region is by no means inferior to India," she told mediapersons at the Lahore Airport on her return from the ministerial meeting of the ASEAN regional forum Sunday.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's had said during her visit to India that New Delhi must play a more assertive role in Asia.

Khar said outstanding issues with India could not be settled overnight, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

Pakistan's new foreign minister, who will hold talks with her Indian counterpart Wednesday, said the international community must extend cooperation to Pakistan in recognition of the country's role as a frontline ally in combating terror.

To a query, Khar said strategic relations with China were moving from strength to strength with every passing day.

On her meeting with Clinton, she said a strong working relationship with the US was in the national interest of Pakistan.

The minister said that the US secretary of state had expressed her willingness to bring relations back on track with Pakistan as well as remove any reservations between the countries.

"Whatever be the role of a country in the region, Pakistan's importance can not diminished at and the US acknowledges the fact," she said.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had said Saturday that Pakistan would not accept the hegemony of any country in the region.

"We don't want any Chaudhry (regional chief) in the region," he said.

Clinton had made her comments on India as a an emerging regional and global power during a three-day visit to India July 18-20 for the second strategic dialogue between the two countries.

She said: "India is a global leader. And the US wholeheartedly supports this development and sees great benefits in our growing partnership".