Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed on a timeline of actions against anti-peace elements with the help intelligence sharing, proposals for refugees’ repatriation and further enhancing regional connectivity. A time frame for these essential actions was agreed in a comprehensive document “A shared vision between Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Pakistan to support peace and stability in both countries and the wider region.”
The contents of shared vision for peace and stability were discussed and finalised in the meeting of representative of Pakistan and Afghanistan on September 30. Both countries would reenegise joint intelligence services led work on mapping and cooperation against enemies. Another noteworthy component of the shared vision pertains to formulation of joint proposals for Afghan Refugees return with a view to take credible and progressive actions by January 1, 2021. Moreover both sides agreed to enhance regional connectivity early next year in a way which not strengthen Afghanistan and Pakistan but also benefit the wider region.
During the Prime Minister maiden visit of Kabul , the two sides observed that Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) framework provides a comprehensive multi-sectoral; mechanism for optimizing bilateral cooperation. The forum was established in May 2018 but it remained largely dysfunctional for several months. The APAPPS framework comprises five working groups focused on politico-diplomatic, Military to Military cooperation, intelligence cooperation, economy and refugees repatriation. The first meeting of this forum was held in Islamabad on June 10, 2019. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Idrees Zaman led their multi-agency delegations. The second meeting was held in Kabul this year. It may be recalled that Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Quershi, in a telephone conversation with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar on April 21, had agreed to revitalize Afghanistan-Pakistan bilateral engagement framework. The bilateral engagement will now be frequent after the Prime Minister visit of Kabul and high level visits of Afghan political leadership will take place. Prime Minister Ashraf Ghani has announced to visit Pakistan in the near future on the invitation of the Prime Minister.
The leadership of both countries are committed to no allow the soil of their countries to be used by the elements against peace. India has been using the terrorist groups that have safe heavens in Afghanistan for terrorist attacks from across the border and inside Pakistan. Over the past several months surge in militancy has been witnessed in the provinces of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and Baluchistan. Security forces and civilians have been attacked with IEDs and firing. Two soldiers of Pakistan’s Army embraced martyrdom and one got injured late Wednesday night in exchange of fire with terrorists when they attacked a check post in South Waziristan. Closer intelligence cooperation will be helpful in preventing such attacks and sneaking in of terrorists into the territory of Pakistan.
Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan Refugees who shall be repatriated when peace and stability returns to the war torn Afghanistan. The pace of their voluntary return takes place at snail pace during March-November every year. However, under the UNHCR assistance programme only the registered refugees are repatriated in small number and that too from the Peshawar center, whereas from Quetta UNHCR center the rate of repatriation is zero. In 2017, a high official of the Ministry of SAFRON had announced that a comprehensive plan of Afghan Refugees’ repatriation is on the anvil. But nothing happened later. The shared vision document once again raises the expectation about the return of refugees to their homeland, when the conditions are conducive there.
Afghanistan used to be the fourth largest destination of Pakistan’s exports and the quantum of bilateral trade had gone up to $4 billion till 2007. However, its volume has shrunk to $ 1billion during past 12 years. Preferential trade agreements to remove the existing tariff and non-tariff barriers will increase the quantum of bilateral trade.
The completion of Termez to Peshawar railroad link will promote regional trade, benefiting the business communities and people of central Asian States, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The utility of regional economic integration has increased in the prevailing free trade era. The free flow of goods, services, capital and transfer of technology give boost to output and employment and eventually bring prosperity to the people of member states.https://thefrontierpost.com/multidimensional-cooperation/
Multidimensional cooperation: edit in The Frontier Post / Nov 21, 2020
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed on a timeline of actions against anti-peace elements with the help intelligence sharing, proposals for refugees’ repatriation and further enhancing regional connectivity. A time frame for these essential actions was agreed in a comprehensive document “A shared vision between Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Pakistan to support peace and stability in both countries and the wider region.”
The contents of shared vision for peace and stability were discussed and finalised in the meeting of representative of Pakistan and Afghanistan on September 30. Both countries would reenegise joint intelligence services led work on mapping and cooperation against enemies. Another noteworthy component of the shared vision pertains to formulation of joint proposals for Afghan Refugees return with a view to take credible and progressive actions by January 1, 2021. Moreover both sides agreed to enhance regional connectivity early next year in a way which not strengthen Afghanistan and Pakistan but also benefit the wider region.
During the Prime Minister maiden visit of Kabul , the two sides observed that Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) framework provides a comprehensive multi-sectoral; mechanism for optimizing bilateral cooperation. The forum was established in May 2018 but it remained largely dysfunctional for several months. The APAPPS framework comprises five working groups focused on politico-diplomatic, Military to Military cooperation, intelligence cooperation, economy and refugees repatriation. The first meeting of this forum was held in Islamabad on June 10, 2019. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Idrees Zaman led their multi-agency delegations. The second meeting was held in Kabul this year. It may be recalled that Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Quershi, in a telephone conversation with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar on April 21, had agreed to revitalize Afghanistan-Pakistan bilateral engagement framework. The bilateral engagement will now be frequent after the Prime Minister visit of Kabul and high level visits of Afghan political leadership will take place. Prime Minister Ashraf Ghani has announced to visit Pakistan in the near future on the invitation of the Prime Minister.
The leadership of both countries are committed to no allow the soil of their countries to be used by the elements against peace. India has been using the terrorist groups that have safe heavens in Afghanistan for terrorist attacks from across the border and inside Pakistan. Over the past several months surge in militancy has been witnessed in the provinces of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and Baluchistan. Security forces and civilians have been attacked with IEDs and firing. Two soldiers of Pakistan’s Army embraced martyrdom and one got injured late Wednesday night in exchange of fire with terrorists when they attacked a check post in South Waziristan. Closer intelligence cooperation will be helpful in preventing such attacks and sneaking in of terrorists into the territory of Pakistan.
Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan Refugees who shall be repatriated when peace and stability returns to the war torn Afghanistan. The pace of their voluntary return takes place at snail pace during March-November every year. However, under the UNHCR assistance programme only the registered refugees are repatriated in small number and that too from the Peshawar center, whereas from Quetta UNHCR center the rate of repatriation is zero. In 2017, a high official of the Ministry of SAFRON had announced that a comprehensive plan of Afghan Refugees’ repatriation is on the anvil. But nothing happened later. The shared vision document once again raises the expectation about the return of refugees to their homeland, when the conditions are conducive there.
Afghanistan used to be the fourth largest destination of Pakistan’s exports and the quantum of bilateral trade had gone up to $4 billion till 2007. However, its volume has shrunk to $ 1billion during past 12 years. Preferential trade agreements to remove the existing tariff and non-tariff barriers will increase the quantum of bilateral trade.
The completion of Termez to Peshawar railroad link will promote regional trade, benefiting the business communities and people of central Asian States, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The utility of regional economic integration has increased in the prevailing free trade era. The free flow of goods, services, capital and transfer of technology give boost to output and employment and eventually bring prosperity to the people of member states.https://thefrontierpost.com/multidimensional-cooperation/
Published in Afghanistan, Pak Media comment and Pakistan