ISLAMABAD – Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan have agreed to adopt regional approach to solve problems including terrorism and militancy.
“Solution to the problems confronting the South and Southeast Asian countries lies in the regional cooperation,” foreign ministers of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan said on Saturday during a joint press conference here at Foreign Office on Saturday.
The three foreign ministers said that only regional approach to regional problems could ensure stability and prosperity. “We are very much sure that our cooperation will not only defeat our common enemy but will also bring prosperity in the region,” they added.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi once again made it loud and clear that Afghanistan’s soil was being used by terrorists in promoting extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. “Afghanistan must take steps to stop the flow of weapons from Afghanistan to Pakistan,” Qureshi added.
Qureshi expressed Pakistan’s willingness to host a second tripartite summit that would be attended by Iranian, Pakistani and Afghan presidents, saying a joint strategy to tackle the problems being faced by the regional countries would be formulated in the meeting. He pointed to the joint statement issued after the first tripartite summit of the heads of state in Tehran, and said, “Pakistan holds itself committed to the statement and is ready to hold the second summit.”
It is pertinent to note here that last tripartite head of the state summit was held in Tehran on May 24, 2009 with the IranÂ’s President Ahmedinejad in the chair. President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai attended the meeting.
The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Iran underlined the significance of a regional approach for resolving the ongoing crisis in the war-hit Afghanistan. They said that Pakistan and Iran had suffered from the consequences of Afghan crisis including the issues of insecurity and refugees.
According to the declaration, the three foreign ministers agreed to establish a joint committee of national coordinators. It said, “The committee would be headed by deputy foreign ministers of three sides who would determine practical measures and chalk out the timetable for holding of specialised meetings.”
The declaration further stated that regional stability and security can only be advanced through sincere and strict adherence to the principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of one another as well as respect for one anotherÂ’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The declaration affirms that three countries bear a shared and common responsibility for security and stability in the region. The three states commit that they will not allow their territories to be used for activities detrimental to one anotherÂ’s interests.
According to declaration, the interior ministers of the three countries will hold a trilateral meeting in Islamabad very soon. After the meeting of the interior ministers, the foreign ministers will also hold a meeting in Afghanistan. However the dates of these meeting will be announced later, it said.