Trilateral meeting discusses situation in Afghanistan, region

[AnGrz_Z_K_Jailer]

Trilateral meeting discusses situation in Afghanistan, region: roadmap for enhanced ties worked out

ISLAMABAD (January 17 2010): Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to enhance co-operation in economic development, security and trade, adopting a regional approach for bringing about peace, stability, sustainable development in Afghanistan and the region. To this effect, a joint declaration was signed by the Foreign Ministers of the three countries at the end of daylong moot ahead of news conference.

Foreign Ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, addressing a news conference along with his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, said that the trilateral meeting discussed situation in Afghanistan and in the region and a roadmap for an enhanced co-operation and consultation.

He said that Interior Ministers of the three countries would meet in Islamabad for consultations; Finance and Economic Affairs Ministers would have a meeting in Kabul; while Security and Intelligence Chiefs would hold consultations in Tehran. He said that it was decided to hold next trilateral summit in Islamabad, and the date would be finalised through diplomatic channels.

About gas pipeline status, and on Jandulla issue, Qureshi said that Pakistan and Iran had made excellent progress on gas pipeline and agreed to sign sale/purchase agreement. About Jandulla issue, he said that both countries were co-operating with each other, and their Interior Ministers have put in place a very good mechanism of engagement.

Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta said that his country would not allow any other country to use its soil against its neighbours, and added that terrorism and extremism are a regional problem with social, political and ideological implications, and expressed hope that trilateral consultative process would help in eliminating the threat in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki said that trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers was held in Islamabad on the instruction of heads of states, and the purpose was to solve the regional problems through a regional strategy. He said that regional problems can be resolved with regional co-operation, and stressed need for a comprehensive policy to change the situation.

He said that the trilateral process among the three countries was not designed against any other initiative but to evolve a comprehensive indigenous strategy to address the challenges in the region. He expressed hope that a regional framework would have the support of important international players who want peace, security and stability in Afghanistan and in the region. He stressed the need for effective co-operation in communication and intelligence sharing.

Qureshi said that discussion on security needs, economic co-operation, regional solution and connectivity were held and the meeting was of the view that role of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran is very important for regional peace. He said that the three countries agreed to support national agenda announced by Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at the inaugural address and the regional approach would be based on that agenda.

The Minister said that to oversee the implementation of the trilateral agenda, the Foreign Ministers agreed to establish expeditiously a 'Joint Committee of National Co-ordinators'. The Committee would be headed by Deputy Foreign Ministers of the three sides, who may co-opt experts, as needed, for promoting co-operation in specific sectors. This Committee will also determine practical measures and chalk out the timetable for holding of specialised meetings.

Qureshi said that in pursuance of the Tehran Declaration, the Foreign Ministers reiterated the Summit decision to hold the Second Trilateral Summit in Islamabad at the earliest. He said it was also agreed upon to pursue holding of meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan and its immediate neighbours following the Trilateral Summit. The meeting, acknowledging the common vision and aspirations of the peoples of the three countries for durable peace and prosperity, affirmed deep desire to promote and commence substantive work within the trilateral framework.

The trilateral moot agreed that regional stability and security can only be advanced through sincere and strict adherence to the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of each other as well as respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The meeting committed not to allow their territories to be used for activities detrimental to each other's interests and acknowledge that terrorism poses a common challenge that could only be addressed through concerted efforts.

The Foreign Ministers of the three countries in the joint declaration reiterated their desire to supplement national counter-terrorism efforts through trilateral intelligence-sharing and greater co-ordination and co-operation at the operational plane, support Afghan national process of promoting national reconciliation and reintegration in accordance with the Constitution of Afghanistan, and stressed that any initiative in this regard must be Afghan-led and Afghan-driven.

They committed to further deepen co-operation to interdict trafficking of narcotics and precursors, arrest cross-border illegal flow of weapons and check transnational organised crime by among other means strengthening national capacities to address these challenges.

The moot also reaffirmed commitment to play their due role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and stressed the importance of creating conditions within Afghanistan conducive to the safe, voluntary, gradual and dignified return and reintegration of Afghan refugees with the support of the international community.

The meeting agreed further to enhance regional connectivity through establishment and development of energy and transport corridors and to encourage participation by respective private sectors in regional development programmes and undertaking joint ventures and encouraged exchange of views, sharing of best practices and project-based co-operation in the areas of energy, transport, industry, mining, agriculture, livestock and environment.

The three countries agreed to commence preparations for establishing trilateral economic, industrial and planning commissions, as well as launch of feasibility study on Joint Investment Fund to support trilateral projects. About the regional process, the Foreign Minister agreed to support the on-going regional processes aimed at developing regional consensus for peace, security, stability and development.

The meeting strongly believed that trilateral co-operation is the key to regional peace and stability and reiterated their commitment to strengthening this co-operation, stressing that these processes must be indigenous and have the ownership of all immediate neighbours of Afghanistan.

The trilateral meeting also stressed that international engagements on Afghanistan must underscore the importance of Afghanistan's ownership of its own plans and priorities and that any regional or international conference should acknowledge their trilateral engagement and co-operation for achieving common objectives and lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Source : Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]