Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Islamabad on Saturday after concluding a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan where he participated in the Global Conference on Sustainable Transport.
While addressing the conference, the PM announced Pakistan’s decision to join the Ashgabat Agreement and Lapis Lazuli Corridor.
The Ashgabat Agreement is a transport pact between Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to facilitate the transport of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. The Lapis Lazuli Corridor is for enhancing trade cooperation between Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
Addressing the conference, the PM said that he was positive that the Ashgabat Agreement would be beneficial for Pakistan as well as for entire Central Asian and South Asian region.
“Peaceful neighbourhood is a key pillar of [Pakistan’s] policy. Without regional peace and stability, we will not be able to reap the benefits of regional connectivity and integration,” he said.
“Through integration of economies, markets and, more importantly cultures, which provide the doorway for peaceful co-existence, I have asked my relevant government ministers to approach the depository countries for an early start of negotiations in this behalf,” he said.
Referring to China’s one-belt one-road initiative, the PM said that it aimed to create the world’s largest platform to integrate development of various regions in the Eurasian land mass. “The most promising element of this initiative is the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. It is a package of multiple infrastructure and development projects that will boost connectivity in the region, help integrate South Asia, China, Central Asia and the Middle East and offer opportunities for hundreds of millions of people in this region,” he said.
Meeting with Afghan president
On the sidelines of the summit, the PM also met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. According to an official statement, the PM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan. He stressed on the need for enhancing bilateral political interaction, security coordination, trade and transit, connectivity and people to people exchanges.
“Emphasising that politically negotiated settlement through an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process is the most viable option for lasting peace. Pakistan will continue its efforts to facilitate the process,” the PM said. He also expressed support to the peace agreement between the Afghan government and Hizb-e-Islami.
Both leaders also discussed the need for cooperation to combat terrorism, terming it a common enemy and a serious challenge to peace in both the countries and the region. The PM said that eliminating this menace required effective coordination between security, intelligence and counter-terrorism institutions of the two countries.
Both leaders also agreed on the need for continued engagement in other areas, including coordination for smooth, safe and dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees and their sustainable reintegration. The Afghan president thanked Pakistan for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than three decades.