Dec 08 , 2015
News
Sartaj calls terrorism a major threat to global, regional peace
Adviser says Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD – Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday, emphasising the need for peace and security in the region, said that Pakistan was committed to help its neighbours including Afghanistan to ensure durable peace.Addressing the fifth senior officials meeting prior to the Heart of Asia conference here at the Foreign Office, he said that Pakistan wants durable peace in Afghanistan as instability there was not in its interest. He said that Pakistan would continue to support all endavours aiming at strengthening peace and security in Afghanistan to ensure development in the region.
He was of the view that the Heart of Asia Conference was an effective platform for promoting regional economic cooperation and connectivity, with Afghanistan and all the neighbouring countries. Sartaj said that the Heart of Asia conference provides an opportunity to member countries to take effective measures and steps and engage in result-oriented projects for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, and a secure and prosperous region as a whole.
The adviser said since the launching of the Heart of Asia conference in 2011, the forum has continued to make good progress towards realisation of its core objectives of promoting durable peace and stability in Afghanistan and enhance cooperation among the members. Highlighting the key achievements of this forum, he said these include political consultation involving Afghanistan and its neighbours and the regional countries to promote mutual trust in the areas of security and economic interaction and development.
“The confidence-building measures identified in the Istanbul process document are leading to enhanced regional engagement and cooperation of the Heart Asia countries with Afghanistan in areas of trade and economic, energy, counter terrorism, narcotics, disaster management, regional infrastructure and education,” he said. "As the Heart of Asia process is maturing, our focus should be on strengthening engagements and collaboration to effectively combat the formidable challenges facing the region in the field of security as well as promoting regional economic collaboration and fighting extremism and terrorism jointly,” he added.
The Adviser said that the theme ‘enhanced cooperation for countering security threats and promoting connectivity’ in the Heart of Asia was pertinent to the needs of the region. He said that there was a need to enhance regional cooperation in counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics efforts, disaster management, infrastructure and education through confidence building measures. “Terrorism continues to be a major threat to global and regional peace,” he said. During last few years, Pakistan has suffered huge human and economic losses due to this menace.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk