TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday agreed to evolve a high-level mechanism for consultation and coordination on bilateral issues.
In a joint press release issued after the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tashkent, it was told that the two sides agreed to constitute a high level bilateral mechanism for consultation and coordination on various important issues relating to bilateral relations and cooperation including security, movement of people and vehicles between Pakistan and Afghanistan and other relevant issues.
The agreement was reached building upon the ideas generated in the meeting between Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai in Islamabad on June 20, 2016.
The proposed mechanism will be co-chaired by Sartaj Aziz and Salahuddin Rabbani and with the participation of the National Security Advisers of the two countries. It will also have a joint technical working group to deal with the concerns of both countries.
The main purpose of this mechanism would be not only to address and resolve issues of concern to both sides through amicable means but also to prevent the recurrence of violent incidents like the ones witnessed recently in Torkham.
The two sides also took this opportunity to review other aspects of bilateral relations. They reaffirmed respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and adherence to the principle of non-interference into each other’s internal affairs.
The adviser and Afghan deputy foreign minister reiterated the mutual desire for strengthening bilateral relations for promoting peace, stability, counter terrorism and economic progress of both the countries. Towards this end, it was agreed to enhance mutual engagement in diverse areas to deepen cooperation.
The two sides specifically expressed their firm commitment to continue serious efforts towards eliminating the scourge of terrorism which poses a grave threat to the peace and security of the two countries, and the region. In this regard, they emphasized the need for close cooperation and coordination between the two countries at all levels.
While discussing bilateral relations, the two sides stressed the need for continuing joint efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan through timely and concrete actions resulting in tangible outcomes including in the framework of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) process.
