The ministers called for increasing cooperation on counterterrorism and insisted the Afghanistan government should be supported in its efforts to address the root causes of terrorism

 

Third Ministerial Meeting of the Quadrilateral Group of Pakistan, China, Iran and Russia
By Elaine Pasquini

New York: Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif participated in the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the Quadrilateral Group of Pakistan, China, Iran and Russia that took place on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly session in New York on September 27, 2024. The important meeting focused on the situation in Afghanistan and efforts for the promotion of peace, security, and stability in the war-torn Central Asian country, following the withdrawal of NATO and US troops in August of 2021. 

The Quadrilateral Group was formed following the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan three years ago to deal with the security and future of the region.

“The meeting also emphasized the importance of engagement with Afghanistan and to continue close coordination among the four countries to strengthen regional efforts for the normalization of the situation in Afghanistan,” according to a statement released by the group.

The ministers attending the meeting reaffirmed their support for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The group also emphasized the importance of engaging with Afghanistan and to continue close coordination between the four countries to strengthen regional efforts for the normalization of the situation in Afghanistan and addressing its various challenges in a comprehensive manner.

 All of the participants expressed concern, however, over the security challenges emanating from the territory of Afghanistan, particularly the terrorism threat, and called on the Taliban-led interim Afghan government to fight terrorism, eliminate all terrorist groups, and prevent Afghan territory from being used against its neighbors, the region and beyond. 

Many terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan, the group stated, continue to pose a serious security threat to the region and beyond. According to the participants at the meeting, these groups include ISIL, al-Qaeda, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Tehrik-i-Taliban, Jaish ul-Adl, the Balochistan Liberation Army, and the Majeed Brigade, among others.

The ministers called for increasing cooperation on counterterrorism and insisted the Afghanistan government should be supported in its efforts to address the root causes of terrorism.

Most importantly, the ministers insisted that the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan build an inclusive and broad-based government that reflects the aspirations and rights of all Afghans, including women and girls.

(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)