News
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran vow to stand ‘united’* Neighbours pledge to eradicate extremism, terrorism
* Declare not to allow anyone use their respective territories against each other
* Zardari vows to fight external pressure on Iran gas pipeline project
* Denies any ‘double game’ on Afghan conflict
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan on Friday pledged to strengthen cooperation to eradicate extremism, terrorism and militancy from the region.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad put their heads together at the third trilateral summit to forge regional cooperation in multifaceted areas. The three neighbours declared they would not allow any threat emanating from their respective territories against each other.
Addressing a press conference along with his Afghan and Iranian counterparts, Zardari vowed to fight the external pressure on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, saying that the “external forces can’t undermine bilateral relations”.
The president also denied any double game of Pakistani security agencies in the Afghan conflict. He, however, indicated that some non-state actors might create disturbance in the neighbouring country.
“I deny this notion that any of our armed forces are directly or indirectly involved,” Zardari said, adding there is a residue in Pakistan of the war that was fought against the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan – a reference to Pakistan’s involvement in the 1980s war.
On the Afghan issue, the president said, “This is a world problem”. He went a step forward in defending the country’s armed forces alleged role in Afghanistan, asking, “Who was the owner and financer of former chief of Tehreek-e-Talban Paksitan Baitulllah Mahsood”. The Iranian president said the problem in the region had no local roots but it was imposed from external fronts – a veiled reference to western powers.
“The fundamental problem in the region is not locally manufactured. But all the problems are coming from outside,” Ahmedinejad said.
President Karzai called for action rather than mere words in the Afghan issue. He emphasised upon the need for a policy that is “actionable and doable”.
The three sides also agreed to broaden cooperation in political, security, economic, cultural, social and educational fields and enhance people-to-people contacts. They also favour visits of parliamentarians, academicians and journalists from the three countries.
They also agreed cooperate in combating the problems of narcotic drugs production and trafficking. The neighbours also vowed to enhance connectivity by launching projects to improve infrastructure, road and rail links, transport and communications.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk