News
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Pakistan, Afghanistan agree on practical steps to defeat terror* Islamabad, Kabul say terrorism is a common enemy and effective measures are needed to curb militancy for safety and security of the people of two nations
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Friday discussed ways and means to take effective and concrete measures against extremism and terrorism to ensure peace and security in the region.
“Terrorism is a common enemy and both the countries had agreed to take joint and effective measures to curb it and fight the militancy for the safety and security of people of both the countries,” said Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Jaweed Lodin while addressing a joint press conference after the completion of the second meeting of the Joint Peace Commission held at the Foreign Office.
The Joint Peace Commission was constituted by the two countries to carry forward a reconciliation process following the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.
It was the second meeting of the two-tiered Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Commission for facilitating and promoting reconciliation and peace process.
The Afghan deputy foreign minister said that the reconciliation process led by and owned by the Afghan people and leadership would be the final solution to the problems and that all the countries helping in this regard had to understand that they would have to follow this Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process.
Answering a question about reports of direct links between the US and Taliban leaders for reconciliation, the Afghan deputy foreign minister said, “It is a reconciliation process led by and owned by Afghan people and leadership and all those helping us in this process will have to streamline our efforts, and ultimately there will be a single peace process.”
Replying to a question, he said that there was progress in the second meeting as some concrete steps and proposals had been identified to be adopted against extremist elements for the success of the reconciliation process.
He said, “We also discussed various elements of reconciliation process.”
“Pakistan’s support and cooperation is vital for the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process,” said the Afghan deputy foreign minister.
In reply to a question, he said, “Afghan government is facing problems due to presence of extremist elements in our side and had made it clear to Pakistan that terrorism is a common enemy.”
On the question of the release of Pakistani children kidnapped by the Taliban and kept in Afghanistan, he said that they had been making sincere efforts for the safe release of these children and would do what ever was possible in this regard.
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said that the representatives of the two countries discussed the regional situation and bilateral matters in a frank and open atmosphere.
Bashir said that despite the challenges being faced by the two countries, they had a shared history, geography and faith and would take action against extremist elements for security and peace in the region.
He said that both countries had reaffirmed their mutual desire and determination to continue coordination on behalf of their leaders for ensuring peace and security in the region. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk