KATMANDU: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) needed to keep striving to achieve economic, cultural and social growth in the region, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said during a visit to its secretariat in Katmandu on Tuesday.
“SAARC had immense potential for strengthening the economies of the member countries and to promote collaboration in various areas of mutual significance,” he said.
During his speech, Abbasi stressed the increased level of connectivity needed among SAARC member states for a prosperous region. “Pakistan attaches great importance to SAARC and remains committed to its principles and objectives of its charter,” he said.
Visiting Katmandu to plant a sapling of pine at the secretariat, Abbasi said that Pakistan had always strived to make SAARC a vibrant vehicle for regional cooperation based on the principle of sovereign equality.
In 2016, Pakistan was scheduled to host the 19th SAARC meeting in Islamabad. Due to strained ties with India, however, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government did not attend the conference, citing “increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of member states.”
As host of the next SAARC summit, Abbasi said: “Pakistan looks forward to convening the summit at an early date” and said that it would “play a positive role in further strengthening regional cooperation.”
He said that Pakistan had at all meetings of SAARC advanced its belief that a secure and peaceful environment in South Asia was crucial for the advancement of the region’s development and prosperity.
Amjad Hussain B Sial, SAARC secretary general, said: “Pakistan is playing an important role in SAARC and had previously hosted two summits. Holding SAARC summits meant renewing impetus among member states and was therefore significant.”
SAARC can build a prosperous region — Abbasi
SAARC can build a prosperous region — Abbasi
Pakistan warns Afghanistan of ‘necessary defense measures’ if it fails to rein in ‘terrorists’
- Pakistan’s UN ambassador accuses Afghan Taliban of supporting “terrorist” groups in Afghanistan at latest Security Council meeting
- Kabul denies Islamabad’s allegations it supports cross-border militancy, saying it cannot be responsible for Pakistan’s security issues
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad this week warned Afghanistan that Islamabad would take “all necessary defense measures” if Kabul failed to take action against militants that he alleged operate from Afghan soil.
Ahmad was speaking during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan during which he said Pakistan had lost 1,200 lives to “terrorism” this year that were planned, financed and orchestrated under the Afghan government’s watch.
The development takes place as tensions persist between Islamabad and Kabul after deadly October clashes between the two that killed dozens of people on both sides. Pakistan routinely blames Afghanistan for not taking action against Pakistani Taliban militants allegedly present on Afghan soil. Kabul denies the allegation and says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
Tensions escalated in late November after two rounds of failed talks in Doha and Istanbul between the two sides. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out strikes on its territory. Pakistan’s military denied the claims as the Taliban vowed to retaliate.
“The Taliban must take concrete and verifiable action against terrorist groups based on their soil, failing which; Pakistan will take all necessary defensive measures for the protection of its citizens, territory and sovereignty,” Ahmad said on Wednesday.
“We also expect UNAMA [United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan] to provide an objective assessment of the security situation at the border. Incidents related to border clashes are primarily an issue of terrorism and peace and security.”
https://x.com/PakistanUN_NY/status/1998837227053572565
The Pakistani UN ambassador hoped the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan would promote a “conducive environment for sincere dialogue” that addresses Islamabad’s security concerns instead of working at cross purposes.
He said elements within the Afghan Taliban rank and file are supporting “terrorist groups” in Afghanistan such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army, Al-Qaeda, Daesh and other outfits. He alleged that the Taliban were allowing these militants “safe passage” to operate with impunity.
“There is also credible evidence of collaboration among these terrorist groups through joint training, illicit weapons trade, refuge to terrorists, and coordinated attacks against Pakistan using the Afghan soil,” he said.
Heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan saw cross-border clashes between the two sides last week, which according to Afghan officials, claimed five lives. Both accused each other of violating the ceasefire via unprovoked firing.
