China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan ready to promote regional connectivity with Afghanistan

Spokesman Report

Islamabad: Top ministers of China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan have said they were ready to expand economic and trade cooperation and promote regional connectivity with Afghanistan.

“These measures will help with Afghanistan’s active integration into regional economic cooperation,” said a joint statement of the third four-way meeting of the foreign ministers regarding Afghanistan.

They also called for strengthening anti-terrorism cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels amid the presence of terrorist organisations in Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan should be assisted in taking comprehensive measures to deal with the causes and agents of terrorism and eradicate the phenomenon as soon as possible,”

Pakistan has been very vocal about the “presence” of banned terrorist organisations in the neighbouring country while urging the interim government to not allow its land to be used as a launchpad for militancy.

The outlawed TTP, which Islamabad believes have safe havens in Afghanistan, has claimed responsibility for many attacks in the recent past, affecting the economic activities in the country.

The ministers blamed the United States and NATO for the “crisis” in Afghanistan and demanded “immediate measures” to improve the security and humanitarian situation in the country.

They stressed their support for the “national sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan,” saying all members of the international community would enjoy the benefits of a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.

The top ministers voiced deep concerns over the security situation due to terrorism in Afghanistan as well as the presence and activities of “terrorist groups such as Da’esh, al-Qaeda, East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jaish al-Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army and other similar groups.” They added that such groups were considered a “serious threat” to the security of the region and the whole world.

They went on to add that the NATO member states must take responsibility for the Afghanistan situation and create opportunities for the economic improvement of Afghanistan. They should “immediately” lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and unblock the country’s frozen assets.

The statement underlined the importance of creating an inclusive government in Afghanistan that reflects the “interests and aspirations” of all sections of the Afghan society. The ministers urged the Afghan authorities to facilitate the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland and prevent further migration.

They also appreciated the efforts of the regional countries, especially Iran and Pakistan to host millions of Afghan refugees and asked the international community and donors to provide the necessary financial support and assistance to those countries.

They underlined the significance of countering efforts to politicise the provision of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.