No terrorist organisation, organisation, or individual shall be permitted to exploit Pakistan, China, or Afghanistan’s territory to endanger the security or interests of the area, the three countries have agreed.
The commitment was made following the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, which was held in Islamabad on May 6, 2023, and was attended by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office on Monday.
The Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), among others, were among the individuals, groups, or parties that the three parties emphasised should not be allowed to use their territories to harm or threaten regional security and interests or carry out terrorist acts and activities.
The communique also said all three sides underscored the need to refrain from intervening in internal affairs of Afghanistan, and to promote Afghan peace, stability and reconstruction.
“Stressing that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan serves the common interest of the region, the Foreign Ministers underscored the critical importance of trilateral cooperation in promoting this objective. The three sides resolved to further deepen and expand their cooperation in the security, development and political domains based on the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and mutual benefit,” read the FO statement.
They also underscored the need to tackle security challenges posing a serious threat to regional and global security, and directly impacting the stability and economic prosperity of the entire region.
“The three sides agreed to coordinate and cooperate on security, organised crimes, drugs smuggling etc. and called on the international community to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and provide necessary supplies, equipment and technical assistance in this regard to the relevant countries.”
