- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has created many opportunities for the region: Diplomatic.
- He says that Kabul’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative brings the countries of the region closer together.
- Shakib delivers a seminar at the Institute of Regional Studies.
ISLAMABAD: In response to Islamabad’s complaints to Kabul over security issues, Afghan Charge d’Affaires Maulvi Sardar Ahmad Shakib said on Tuesday that Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used by terrorist groups against Pakistan.
This came during a symposium entitled “Strengthening economic relations between Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia” organized by the Institute of Regional Studies.
Pakistan has seen a surge in armed attacks since the Taliban government returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021, mostly in the northwestern border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but also in southwestern Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
Islamabad accuses Kabul’s interim rulers of failing to eliminate militants who are taking shelter on Afghan soil while preparing to launch attacks on Pakistan.
The Afghan diplomat said, “Pakistan and Afghanistan face security challenges, and peace, security and stability in the region is our wish.”
Speaking about the security concerns of the Pakistani government regarding Afghanistan, Shakib said that Kabul is trying to convince Islamabad that “some non-state elements are behind the infiltration into Pakistan.”
Shakib stressed that Afghanistan’s policy is clear, which is not to support non-governmental elements.
Talking about CPEC, Shakib said that the project has created many opportunities for the region which can also benefit Afghanistan.
He also said that Afghanistan’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative will not only boost investments in its infrastructure, but will also bring countries in the region closer together.
“We believe that the trilateral cooperation between Afghanistan, Pakistan and China can herald a new era of regional cooperation.”
He described Pakistan as one of Afghanistan’s major trading partners and expressed the Afghan interim administration’s commitment to promoting trade and investment between the two countries.
He acknowledged the recent challenges in trade and economic relations between the two countries, but felt that Afghanistan was striving to revitalize economic relations.
Besides security-related issues, the Taliban diplomat highlighted Western sanctions, frequent closure of crossing points, limited customs facilities, sudden and unilateral increases in tariffs, and frequent inspection of loaded vehicles as major obstacles to trade flows.
He stressed the need for the two countries to invest in trade infrastructure, simplify customs operations, enhance commercial facilities, develop transportation links, build mutual trust, and enhance diplomatic dialogues to achieve long-term trade benefits.
While calling for greater economic policy cooperation and expansion of transportation and transit projects between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he stressed the desirability of continued diplomatic engagement among countries of the region and joint efforts for peace and security to provide a sustainable basis for regional economic cooperation.
Shakib also stressed the need to refrain from imposing economic restrictions and other policies that hinder regional economic cooperation.
The Afghan Charge d’Affaires stressed the importance of Afghanistan as a bridge between South and Central Asia.
He said that the interim Afghan administration has already started work on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, and added that Kazakhstan has expressed interest in joining the project.
Shakib also explained that Afghanistan is working on projects such as the Trans-Afghanistan Railway, CASA-1000, and other regional initiatives.
Speaking on the occasion, IRS Chief Ambassador Gohar Saleem stressed the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for intra-regional trade and economic prosperity.
He believed that any lack of security in Afghanistan and the inability to prevent the flow of terrorism abroad will not allow building regional economic cooperation that can help achieve prosperity for the peoples of the entire region.