Peace, stability in Afghanistan prerequisite for economic development in region: Sartaj
Source : Business Recorder Date : 20-10-2014
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ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Monday said peace and stability in Afghanistan were prerequisite for realization of the agenda of economic development and higher standards of living for the people of region.
Addressing the concluding session of second two-day Trilateral China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Dialogue, organized by Pakistan-China Institute here, he said the task to ensure peace and stability in the region was very difficult due to numerous challenges, including extremism, terrorism, narcotics and transnational crimes.
German political and social organization, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung provided support for organizing the two-day Trilateral Dialogue, which was attended by the diplomats, experts on regional study and intellectuals from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan.
Sartaj Aziz, in his key note address, said, "We also recognize that these challenges can be met through our common resolve and common endeavours and we can march together, hand-in-hand, towards greater peace, stability and prosperity."
He said it was a moment of hope and optimism in Afghanistan as the successful completion of the electoral process and the formation of national unity government were landmark achievements.
The first-ever peaceful transfer of power from one elected president to another elected one, he said, was, rightfully, a matter of pride for the Afghan people.
This outcome became possible due to the wisdom and sagacity of President Dr Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who placed national interest above all else and it would go a long way in strengthening the stability and unity of Afghanistan, he added.
Sartaj Aziz said Afghanistan was indeed fortunate to have the bold vision and strong leadership of President Ashraf Ghani at this crucial juncture.
His agenda of change and reform was far-reaching and "Triangle of Stability" -- economy, security and human resource -- that he emphasized was indispensable for Afghanistan, he added.
Referring to his visit to Kabul, Sartaj Aziz said it was a great privilege listening to President Ashraf Ghani's vision for a special relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan; and for a connected and economically integrating region.
"I shared with him Pakistan's commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's desire to build a comprehensive and enduring partnership between our two countries." he added.
Sartaj Aziz said President Ghani also shared with him the Prime Minister's vision of an inter-connected region, where trade flourishes and energy flows, through transport corridors, electricity grids, and gas pipelines.
Appreciating the efforts of Pakistan-China Institute for organizing the dialogue, Sartaj Aziz said he was grateful to Senator Mushahid Hussain for his invitation and commended the Pakistan-China Institute and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung for holding the international conference.
He said the Pakistan-China Institute had fast evolved into a vibrant and active think-tank and become a highly important platform for public policy discourse.
"It would not be an exaggeration if I said it personifies Senator Mushahid's energy and drive," he added.
Sartaj Aziz termed the imitative "track 1.5" trilateral China-Afghanistan-Pakistan dialogue, to discuss security and political situation in Afghanistan and its implications for neighbouring countries.
He said the rise of China as a global actor was one of the most profound transformations of present times.
"China's policy of 'peaceful development' and its growing international outreach serve as the pivotal framework for closer interaction with Afghanistan," he added.
He said China was the only major power, sharing a border with Afghanistan and thus having a direct stake in its peace and stability and it also had had historically friendly ties with the Afghan people.
He said deepening engagement between China and Afghanistan in the bilateral political, economic, security and cultural fields, and China's contribution to Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction, were notable developments.
He said China's investments in the Aynak copper mine project and Amu Darya Basin oil project signified a major effort to help Afghanistan strengthen the process of its economic development.
Sartaj Aziz said the 4th Ministerial Conference being hosted by China in Beijing on October 31 would be a major occasion for the international community to reaffirm its solidarity with Afghanistan at a time of momentous transitions taking place there.
He said as strategic partners, Pakistan and China had a common stake in regional peace and stability.
He said the game-changing Economic Corridor project had immense potential to change the regional outlook in terms of connectivity and economic integration, from which Afghanistan could also benefit immensely.
He said Pakistan and China wanted a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and united Afghanistan and "both recognize that terrorism, extremism and narcotics are serious threats and believe that these should be neutralized through coordinated efforts."
He said, "We both believe that a negotiated political reconciliation among all Afghan stakeholders is the best guarantee for sustainable peace."
Both Pakistan and China had consistently supported an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, he added.
He said Pakistan and China were making contributions to the process of Afghanistan's reconstruction and economic development.
"Both Pakistan and China see Afghanistan's potential as a land bridge and wish to promote its deeper economic integration with the region through linkages in trade, energy, communications, infrastructure, and connectivity," he added.
Aziz said, "No repeat of 1992, nor would there any economic vacuum be allowed in Afghanistan."
He said, "We also recognize the issues with a common agenda and approach, so challenges of terrorism, extremism and narcotics can be met."
Citing Amu Darya project, Sartaj Aziz said it signified the economic development potential. Taking advantage from the opportunities, railway line from Bamiyan to Peshwar could benefit to the whole region, he added.
Praising holding of the Trilateral Dialogue, Sartaj Aziz thanked Pakistan-China Institute Chairman, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Ronny Heine, Resident Representative of the German political foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) for organizing this international conference.
Earlier, Ambassador Riaz Khokar said this process (of dialogue) was fundamental to both peace and stability in the region.
In this special address, Ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand said it was 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.
Chairman Pakistan-China Institute Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, speaking on the occasion, said the purpose of the conference was nopt only academic discussion but also to come up with some practical recommendations as a way forward.
Five-point recommendations were presented by Pakistan-China Institute Executive Director, Mustafa Hyder Sayed, as a way forward in cooperation between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the conclusion of two-day Trilateral Dialogue encompassing.
Highlighting salient features of recommendations, Mustafa Hyder Sayed said the trilateral dialogue conceived, planned and launched by the Pakistan China Institute, had now been institutionalized with the Islamabad Trilateral Dialogue; the first held in Beijing in August 2013, and in 2015, the Trilateral Dialogue would convene in Kabul, Afghanistan, at a mutually convenient date.
He said the participants recommended that Joint Trilateral Counter Terrorism Task Force be established between the three neighbours, to share information, intelligence, coordinate policy and strategy to combat terrorism, which should meet quarterly in rotation in each of the three countries capitals.
It was recommended that Joint Trilateral Task Force for promoting the Central Asia Economic Belt and Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, to include the three neighbours, with projects which could be of mutual benefit to the communities along the Corridor and peoples of the three countries. Trilateral Business Council, involving the private sectors, be established to promote this.
Joint Trilateral Youth Summer Camps of students and youth of the three neighbours to assemble by rotation in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan, Xinjiang province in China and the Wakhan region of Afghanistan.
Trilateral Media Conference to be convened annually to promote communication and better understanding amongst print, electronic and social media, including bloggers, of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan, with training workshops and joint reporting initiatives about each other's countries reinforced by regular exchanges of journalists.
Earlier, perspectives of the three participating countries China, Afghanistan and Pakistan were represented by Senator Akram Zaki, former ambassador to China; Dr. Ghairat Baheer, an eminent public figure from Afghanistan, and Major General Noel Khokar, Director General, ISSRA, National Defence University (NDU).
This session was chaired by veteran diplomat Dr. Ross Masood Hussain, Chairman, Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad.
Presenting Pakistani perspective, Major Gen. Noel Khokar, Director General, ISSRA at National Defence University pointed at the going operation against terrorism in the northwest of Pakistan as Zarb-e-Asb demonstrate amply Pakistan resolve to peace.
Appreciating China's role in improving relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan that can help remove mistrust, General Khokar stressed the need for increasing dialogue with institutes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Dr. Davood Moradian, Director General, Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, Kabul, chaired session on Trilateral Cooperation on Afghanistan.
Speaking on securing borders, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi observed there was no joint mechanism to deal with terrorism and there were doubts and suspicions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Welcoming China's interest in Afghan peace process, eminent journalist and Executive Director, 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 that let Afghans decide their fate.
Talking about securing linkages, Prof. Li Xiguang, Director Pakistan Study Center, Tsinghua University, elaborated on Securing Linkages: Silk Road Economic Zone, Pak-China Economic Corridor & Central Asia Economic Belt.