In order to discuss and come up with solution to the challenges faced by the region, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and Tajikistan held a quartate meeting at the latter’s capital and took appraisal of the issues at hands.
Earlier during their meeting at Shanghai, China, the four heads of the states were of the view that cooperation was the only way forward and decided to give continuity to the quartate meeting that was held in Russia the previous year wherein the regional situation was reviewed and joint efforts on the part of countries concerned were brought to the fore in this regard.
In the current quartate meeting at Tajikistan, where President Imam Ali Rahmanov invited Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, issues related to Afghanistan were discussed for possible solution. Afghan officials on the occasion said that their point of view in the wake of withdrawal of American forces or stationing of some of American Army after 2014 in Afghanistan will be highlighted in the meeting and further said that discussion regarding oil and gas pipeline from Tajikistan and other Central Asian States would take place in the meeting as the extension of gas pipeline from Central Asia to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India was considered to be of great importance these days.
Analysts were focused and it was agreed in the meeting that a written agreement would also be pondered to take up a joint strategy with America regarding its presence in Afghanistan. Neighbouring countries of Afghanistan are apprehensive of the fact that a longer stay of foreign forces would not only prove harmful for Afghanistan but could be dangerous for the neighbouring countries as well.
Expert on Afghan affairs in the American Congress, Nancy Pelosi, used to say till 2008 that the ‘war’ had been won; but in the month of July in 2011 – wherein 23 American Special Forces personnel were killed when a Chinook Helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan – is now of the point of view that perhaps ‘war’ in Afghanistan could be stretched further.
There should be talks of fetching peace and mending ways in Afghanistan instead of building upon the already failing strategies or other things that are not helpful for creating peace in the region and both Afghan authorities and Americans along with the Taliban should take the opportunity and should work to this end. There is a need to understand that joint negotiations that include all concerned quarters and neighbouring countries may be the last resort to end militancy in the region.
–Translated from the original Pashto by Abdur Rauf Khattak
The recent visit of President Zardari to attend the quadrilateral summit in Dushanbe is of keen importance. It brought the presidents of four major regional powers to discuss increased cooperation in regional trade, fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, and making joint efforts for regional peace and security. Earlier in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China, President Asif Ali Zardari had mooted the idea of a revival of the historic Silk Route and the Eurasian Corridor. In its modern avatar, this would take the form of increased connectivity through modern highways, railroads and air services. Increased trade and investment would follow the development of these modern means of communication, bolstered by banking and other mutually beneficial services. The potential for good of these ideas is further underlined by the possibility of Pakistan acting as the southern leg of a trade and energy corridor, linking Gwadar Port with China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe.
The dream is ambitious but doable, as underlined by Russian President Dimitry Medvedev’s remarks on regional issues, particularly Afghanistan, and the role Russia was desirous of playing in implementing the dream. It will not only help to bring peace in the region but also help out Pakistan in economical terms at large. It is indeed a very positive step by President for the betterment of Pakistan. Pakistanis as nation needs to learn, needs to realize and needs to stop negating positive steps waged by the government of Pakistan.
Comments are closed.