Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to mend their ties on Chinese intervention and also decided to establish a crisis management mechanism, which will include prevention through timely and effective intelligence and information sharing and other mutually agreed measures to remove trust deficit. The understanding was reached during a two-day visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to both the countries from June 24 - 25 at the invitation of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A joint press statement, issued here at the conclusion of the visit, and read out to reporters by Chinese Foreign Minister in a joint news conference along with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, stated the three parties had in-depth exchange of views on the Afghan issue, the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan and China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral cooperation, and reached consensus on the following points:
(i). The three parties are all committed to maintaining regional peace and stability, enhancing regional connectivity and economic cooperation and promoting shared security and development.
(ii). Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are willing to improve relations with each other, strengthen political mutual trust, enhance cooperation in various fields including counter-terrorism, and jointly meet security challenges. The Chinese side hopes Afghanistan and Pakistan could maintain stable and sound relations, and is willing to provide necessary assistance in this regard based on the needs of both sides.
(iii). Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to establish a crisis management mechanism, which will include prevention through timely and effective intelligence and information sharing and other mutually agreed measures. This would enable the two sides to maintain timely and effective communications in case of any emergencies, including terrorist attacks, with a view to seeking proper solution through dialogue and consultation and preventing deterioration of the situation which might have negative effect on the bilateral relationship. The Chinese side will support this mechanism.
(iv). The three parties agree to establish the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' dialogue mechanism to cooperate on issues of mutual interest, beginning with economic cooperation.
(v). The three parties believe that peace and reconciliation is the fundamental solution to the Afghan issue, which could not be solved by violent means. The Chinese side and the Pakistani side support the "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" reconciliation process, and stand ready to continue to play a constructive role in advancing this process. The three parties call on the Afghan Taliban to join the reconciliation process at an early date.
(vi). The three parties believe that the Quadrilateral Co-ordination Group should be revived to create an enabling environment for peace talks and for Taliban to join the peace talks.
(vii). The three parties support the Kabul process and hold the view that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization-Afghanistan Contact Group should be revived as early as possible to play a constructive role in moving forward the Afghan reconciliation process.
During this visit, the three parties condemned the recent terrorist attacks occurred in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, and extended condolences to the deceased and sympathy to the affected people.
The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China wants a peaceful and stable Afghanistan to ensure development and prosperity and will work with Pakistan and Afghan government for a durable peace.
He said that the objective of his visit was to respond to the interest expressed by Pakistan and Afghanistan and as instructed by the Chinese leadership to conduct shuttle diplomacy between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"The main purpose is to listen to the respective views of both sides and get more knowledge of the situation on the ground and do what China can to help improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan", he said, adding China does not interfere in the affairs of other countries or imposes its will on others, but at a time when there is a need we lend a helping hand.
The consensus reached in the meetings with Pakistani and Afghan leaders is reflected in the joint statement issued, he added. To a question, he said that Afghanistan and Pakistan had expressed the interest of seeing China to play the [mediatory] role and that is indicative of a high level of trust that both countries have placed in China.
"China is ready to play the role based on friendly and equal consultation with both parties," he said, adding both Pakistan and Afghanistan have expressed goodwill towards each other and in particular the two sides have agreed to establish this bilateral crisis management mechanism, which is an important step.
He said that the key for Pakistan and Afghanistan is to have detailed consultations on how this mechanism would function and reach an agreement on the operability of this mechanism. "China is ready to play a constructive role and would encourage other parties to also play a positive role in that regard," he added. Referring to Pakistan's contributions to restoration of peace, he said Pakistan is playing a vital role in ensuring peace and stability in the region. He said Pakistan has rendered unprecedented sacrifices in war on terror and the world should appreciate and acknowledge these efforts.
He said Pakistan is also playing a crucial role in completing the projects under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor as a part of One Belt One Road vision. Speaking on the occasion, Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistan has consistently emphasized that peace and stability in Afghanistan is in our interest and a stable Afghanistan would help us promote our shared agenda of economic development and regional connectivity.
He said Pakistan's relations with China are the cornerstone of our foreign policy. "We took stock of the progress made in bilateral relations, including political, strategic and economic cooperation and identified areas for further consolidation of the 'all weather' relationship between Pakistan and the People's Republic of China," he added.
He said China appreciated the resolute steps taken by Pakistan to counter the menace of terrorism and both countries agree that terrorism is a common challenge. It is also a challenge to global peace and stability, he added.
The Adviser said the next phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) part of the wider One Belt One Road initiative will not be confined to physical connectivity only but will also promote connectivity of ideas, cultures and peoples. He said Pakistan wants peaceful relations with all its neighbours including India and "we agreed on the need for strategic balance in South Asia".
He said Pakistan informed China about its efforts to strengthen cooperation with the Afghan government in counter-terrorism, border management and voluntary and sustainable return of Afghan refugees. He said also emphasized on the need for the two countries to pursue their abiding commitment to not let their respective soils be used against each other. Responding to a question, Aziz said that it is the beginning of a very important initiative on behalf of China, which will create a mechanism that would help resolve differences and improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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