ISLAMABAD - Pakistan, China and Afghanistan on Monday agreed to constitute a Joint Trilateral Counter Terrorism Task Force to share intelligence and coordinate policy and strategy for combating terrorism.
The decision was made at the conclusion of two-day trilateral dialogue here that was attended by ambassadors of the three countries, diplomats and security experts.
The three countries also recommended establishment of Joint Trilateral Task Force for promoting the Central Asia Economic Belt and Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, to include the three neighbours, with projects which can be of mutual benefit to the communities along the Corridor and peoples of the three countries. The task forces would meet quarterly in rotation in each of the three countries capitals.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Policy and National Security Sartaj Aziz underlined that there was a hope and optimism in Afghanistan. Addressing the concluding session, Sartaj Aziz - who has just returned from a trip to Kabul - observed that success of elections and formation of new government in Afghanistan was a positive step.
"Afghanistan is fortunate to have the leadership and vision to bring transformation in the country," he said, adding Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's vision is for a prosperous Afghanistan. "I shared with him Pakistan's own decision for peace and stability in Afghanistan," he said while talking about his recent meeting with Afghan president. “I also shared prime minister's (Nawaz Sharif) vision and agenda of economic development," he added.
Praising the Trilateral Dialogue, Sartaj Aziz thanked Pakistan-China Institute Chairman, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed for taking the initiative for organising the event. He also praised Ronny Heine, Resident Representative of the German political foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), for supporting this international conference.
Earlier, former ambassador Riaz Khokar said this process (of dialogue) was fundamental to both peace and stability in the region. Former Ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand said it’s time that both India and Pakistan should enter into dialogue to determine "what should be their role in Afghanistan, so there would be no proxy wars in the region."
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said: The purpose isn't only academic discussion but to come up with some practical recommendation as a way forward. These are very practical and doable recommendations.
Presenting Pakistani perspective, Major-Gen Noel Khokar, ISSRA director general at National Defence University, pointed at the ongoing operation against terrorism in the northwest of Pakistan saying that ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ amply demonstrates Pakistan’s resolve to peace. Appreciating China's role in improving relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan that can help remove mistrust, Khokar stressed the need for increasing dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan at institutional level.
Dr Davood Moradian, director general of Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, Kabul, who chaired session on Trilateral Cooperation on Afghanistan, underlined, “Threat of terrorism has united us.” Speaking on Securing Borders, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi observed there is "no joint mechanism to deal with terrorism".
Welcoming China's interest in Afghan peace process, eminent journalist and executive director at Center for Research and Security Studies, Imtiaz Gul commented on the Peace Process in Afghanistan as a "very tight rope walk for the new government in Kabul", and recommended: Let Afghans decide their fate.