ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and other regional countries on Friday urged Afghanistan’s government to take effective measures to dismantle militant groups in the country, a statement from the Moscow Format Consultations forum said.
The Moscow Format Consultations was launched in 2016 with the aim to promote political reconciliation between the then-Afghan government of Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban, who were at war against Afghan security forces and the US-led forces in the country.
The fifth meeting of the format was held in Russia’s Kazan city and featured special representatives and senior officials from China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister attended the meeting which also featured representatives of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye as guests of honor.
The group met to discuss some of Afghanistan’s most pressing issues such as militancy, the formation of an inclusive government, and freedom for women and minorities in the country.
“[All parties] called on the current Afghan authorities to take effective measures to dismantle, eliminate and prevent the placement of all sorts of terrorist groups based in Afghanistan,” the statement said. “And to prevent the country from being the terrorism and instability hotspot and spreading to the regional states.”
Participants also urged Afghanistan to enhance cooperation with regional countries in the fight against militancy and drug trafficking that they said was emanating from Afghanistan.
The forum noted that “no progress” had been made in forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan that reflected the interests of all ethnopolitical groups in the country. It called on the interim government to establish a “practical, outcome-oriented dialogue” with representatives of alternative ethnopolitical groups.
The Moscow Format Consultations urged Afghan authorities to forge a balanced, more broad-based, inclusive, accountable, and responsible government in Afghanistan.
It called on Afghanistan’s government to provide equal work and education opportunities regardless of discrimination with regard to gender and religion.
“[The participants] stressed upon their concern about imposed restrictions on women’s employment and girls’ education,” the statement said. “Urged the current Afghan authorities to promote the modern education in the schools conforming to international standards.”
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained ever since the Taliban captured Kabul in August 2021. Pakistan has seen a steep rise in attacks in its western regions, especially those bordering Afghanistan, which Islamabad blames on militants based in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan denies its soil is used by militants to launch attacks against other countries.
‘Moscow Format’: Pakistan, regional countries call on Afghanistan to ‘dismantle’ militant groups
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‘Moscow Format’: Pakistan, regional countries call on Afghanistan to ‘dismantle’ militant groups
- Representatives from Pakistan, China, India, Iran, Russia, and other countries meet in Russia’s Kazan city
- Participants urge Afghanistan’s authorities to provide more freedom to women, form inclusive government
Pakistan launches first Hong Kong Convention-certified ship recycling yard
- Hong Kong International Convention aims to improve hazardous working conditions in ship recycling facilities worldwide
- Maritime affairs minister says certification reflects Islamabad’s efforts in implementing global environmental standards
ISLAMABAD: Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry inaugurated Pakistan’s first ship recycling facility certified by the Hong Kong International Convention on Wednesday, saying the move would help Islamabad meet global benchmarks in environmentally friendly ship recycling.
Pakistan became a party to the 2009 Hong Kong Convention in December 2023, which aims to improve hazardous working conditions in ship recycling facilities worldwide. The ship recycling industry in Pakistan and globally faces pressure from calls to adopt safer and cleaner methods.
Shipbreaking is a significant industry in Pakistan, particularly in the coastal town of Gadani in southwestern Balochistan, which was once one of the world’s largest ship recycling hubs. However, business has declined in recent years as Islamabad grapples with a macroeconomic crisis.
Chaudhry inaugurated the Prime Green Recycling Yard in Gadani during a ceremony. He highlighted that the certification demonstrated Pakistan’s alignment with international maritime and environmental standards in a sector long criticized for hazardous working conditions.
“The success of the Prime Green Recycling Yard is a matter of national pride and a clear signal that Pakistan is meeting global benchmarks for environmentally friendly ship recycling,” the Maritime Affairs Ministry quoted him as saying.
“Pakistan is emerging as a responsible country in the global ship recycling industry.”
The statement highlighted that the government was working to modernize the Gadani Ship Recycling Zone, focusing on infrastructure upgrades, regulatory reforms, and improved oversight.
It added that worker safety would remain a top priority as the industry transitions to cleaner and safer methods.
Chaudhry said modernizing the ship recycling sector could create thousands of jobs and conserve foreign exchange by providing locally sourced steel and materials.
“With a responsible and sustainable approach, ship recycling can become a major contributor to economic growth,” he said.
“It will reduce dependence on imports and strengthen Pakistan’s industrial base.”
Pakistan’s maritime sector, anchored by its long coastline and strategic ports such as Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar, holds vast potential for the blue economy. However, it remains underutilized due to infrastructure gaps, policy inconsistencies, and limited shipping capacity.
