Joint statement by foreign ministers of the SCO countries following a meeting in the format of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, July 14, 2021 at Dushanbe, Tajikinstan.
Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister and his Chinese and Pakistan counterparts Wang Yi and Shah Mahmood Qureshi also attended
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We, foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries,
Advocating the development of Afghanistan as an independent, neutral, united, peaceful, democratic and prosperous state,
Realising that peace and stability in that country is one of the main factors in ensuring security in the SCO region,
Being convinced of the need to continue helping the Afghan people in their efforts to restore the country and return to the road of peace and national accord,
Declare the following:
As friendly neighbours and important partners of Afghanistan, the SCO member states are interested in its development as a peaceful, stable and prosperous country, and confirm their respect for the traditions and culture of all peoples living in Afghanistan.
In accordance with universally accepted principles and norms of international law, primarily the UN Charter, the SCO countries reaffirm their respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. They intend to facilitate the development of Afghanistan as a country free from terrorism, war and drugs.
We condemn the violence and terror attacks that continue in Afghanistan, killing civilians and representatives of government bodies and call for their cessation as soon as possible. We note that the activities of international terrorist organisations remain one of the key factors of instability in that country. We express our deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the northern provinces of Afghanistan as a result of a sharp increase in the concentration of various terrorist, separatist and extremist groups. We consider it important for the SCO member states to enhance their joint efforts in order to counteract terrorism, separatism and extremism.
We urge all parties involved in the conflict in Afghanistan to refrain from the use of force and actions that may lead to destabilisation and unpredictable consequences near the Afghan borders with the SCO states.
The SCO member states reaffirm their willingness to continue developing cooperation with Afghanistan on countering security threats in the region, in particular, all forms and manifestations of terrorism and drug trafficking, and to jointly oppose double standards in resolving these tasks.
Emphasising the importance of long-term hospitality and effective aid for Afghan refugees, the SCO members consider it important for the international community to take active joint efforts to facilitate their proper, safe and sustainable return home.
We believe that reaching an early settlement in Afghanistan is a major factor in maintaining and strengthening security and stability in the SCO space. In this context, we emphasise the need for the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to intensify their efforts to restore peace, promote national economic development and counter terrorism, extremism and drug-related crime. We confirm the position of the SCO members that the conflict in Afghanistan can only be settled by political dialogue and an inclusive peace process conducted and led by the Afghans themselves.
We urge all interested states and international organisations to strengthen their cooperation, with the UN playing a central coordinating role, in order to stabilise and develop the country. In this context, we note the activities of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General and the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy.
We welcome the diplomatic support for the peace process in Afghanistan by the international public, including the inter-Afghan peace talks in Doha, the extended Troika, the Moscow consultations format and the Tashkent venue. We note the outcome of the ministerial meeting of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul process in Dushanbe on March 29-30, 2021.
Respecting the Afghan people’s independent choice of their own path of development, we are convinced that the inter-Afghan negotiations must consider the interests of all ethnic groups living in the country.
We attach much importance to our cooperation in the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. We consider it necessary to consistently implement the roadmap for further action by the Contact Group, which was adopted in Bishkek on June 14, 2019, with a view to strengthening regional stability and developing relations between the SCO states and Afghanistan.
We reaffirm the willingness of our countries to continue deepening cooperation with Afghanistan in politics and security, as well as in the economic and humanitarian spheres, including by maximising the potential of Afghanistan’s participation as an observer state in the SCO’s activities.
Pakistan has sadly done away with its few golden opportunities when a decisive man like Prime Minister
Narendra Modi went out of the way to give peace a chance. 'Pathankot attack' and Uri terror attack in 2016 are two of the nemesis from its part and a future Pakistani leadership would always regret these.
New Delhi:
Balochistan has strategic importance of its own both from Pakistani and regional perspective. It shares a border with Afghanistan and also Iran and constitutes nearly 44 per cent of Pakistan's total land mass.
Hence Pakistan has been extra sensitive about this region though it has never done enough to keep the local population happy.
“I want to wish my Indian brothers and sisters a very happy Independence Day.
The success they have made in the last 70 years makes Indians proud. We want them (Indians) to raise their voice for a free Balochistan. We need their support. Thank you and Jai Hind,” Baloch activist Atta Baloch had said in 2015.
Now that the Taliban is set to gain its territorial authority in Afghanistan – how things span out in Balochistan remains to be seen.
Last month there were reports that amid US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, there was an increased violence in Balochistan province by 'Pakistan Taliban'.
Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan has already appointed Shahzain Bugti, Jamhoori Watan Party chief, as his special assistant to work for reconciliation in the province.
Pakistan has its own set of problems and limitations. It’s both economic and diplomatic momentum is somehow lost.
Of course, there is a view that it can regain these to an extent if Islamabad comes out sincerely in ‘fight against terror’ – though Pakistan's double standards on the same are pretty well known.
Nevertheless, in its sincerity to stem out terrorism actually lies Pakistan’s future and the leadership should also realise that its ‘soul’ also depends on the same.
Pakistan has sadly done away with its few golden opportunities when a decisive man like Prime Minister Narendra Modi went out of the way to give peace a chance.
Pathankot attack and Uri terror attack in 2016 are two of the nemesis from its part and a future Pakistani leadership would always regret these.
While authorities in Pakistan including the likes of its belligerent foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and the army generals always take self consolation in presenting a different picture, the truth of the matter
is ever since Pathankot and later Uri, Pakistan’s entire diplomatic skills have taken a beating.
A section of observers say in tune with the cabinet reshuffle undertaken by PM Modi, perhaps it is time for Imran Khan to replace Shah Mahmood Qureshi as his foreign minister.
But whether the former cricket captain, Imran, has the permission of those in the military barracks is another issue that awaits an answer in the womb of time.
Qureshi had faltered earlier too as in 2008 when the Mumbai siege had taken place he was on a visit to New Delhi as foreign minister under the then PM Yousaf Raza Gillani.
In fact, on Nov 27, 2008, Qureshi had shown the ‘audacity’ of walking into Indian Women's Press Corps in Delhi unmindful of the anguish in the streets of Delhi and Mumbai.
The then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in fact had a tele chat with him, sounding his displeasure and asked him to fly back to his country at the earliest.
Imran Khan has few others also in his cabinet. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary is another such character.
Of late he has been throwing up sound-bytes with regard to Balochistan leaving people stunned.
One such remark was that the government will negotiate only with Baloch groups who have no links with India. This was contradicting Imran Khan himself.
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| They came together to corner Pak: 1994 |
The best of friends of Pakistan would advise it that in the changing global scenario and economic turmoil it has landed, the Pakistani ISI and the military must make fundamental and drastic efforts to cease the decades old practice of using terrorism as a foreign policy tool.
Even the Taliban was created by ISI and military to fight India.
In 2015, former Pak President Gen Pervez Musharraf had said that because the then Afghan President Hamid Karzai “had helped India stab Pakistan”, authorities in Islamabad had to “protect our (Pak) own interest”.
Seen as an admission of Pakistani involvement in helping theTaliban, Musharraf had also told ‘The Guardian’ newspaper of London that: “In President Hamid Karzai’s times, yes, indeed, he was damaging Pakistan and
therefore were working against his interest”.
In fact, Karzai had sent young Afghan officers to India for ‘training’ and had snubbed Pakistan by declining to take the offer for such training at Pakistan’s military academy at Abbottabad.
One reason for Pakistan to have trained and helped create the Taliban was because Karzai’s regime was full of non-Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.
Now with regard to Balochistan and Pak Information Minister’s remarks, these were in direct confrontation with the mandate given to Shahzain Bugti by PM Imran Khan.
It is given that once ‘negotiations’ between Balochs and Pak government start – all ‘foreign’ influence on Baloch tribes would also weaken.
As it is, there are reports indicating that Baloch groups ‘hiding’ in Afghanistan may find it difficult now that the Taliban influence is on the upsurge.
Ends
Taliban regime by force & violence in Afghanistan won't be legitimate, says India
New Delhi:
It is the assertion of a confident 'New India'.
A Taliban regime that would come to power in war-devastated Afghanistan and its capital Kabul "by violence
and force" would not be considered a legitimate dispensation, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar
categorically said at a SCO foreign ministers meet at Dushanbe in Tajikistan.
“The world is against seizure of power by violence and force. It will not legitimise such actions,” Dr Jaishankar
told the grouping including Ministers from Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi and China Wang Yi among others.
Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan also attended..
Dr Jaishankar emphasised that it ought to be ensured that "neighbours are not threatened by terrorism, separatism and extremism".
This is in reference to regional importance and talks in a veiled manner about the role of Pakistan.
"Highlighted that unilateral change of status quo is not acceptable. Full restoration and maintenance of
peace and tranquility in border areas is essential for development of our ties. Agreed on convening an
early meeting of the Senior Military Commanders," he tweeted.
This was a meeting of the “Contact group” of the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
in Dushanbe on Wednesday.
A joint statement was also issued condemning the violence.
"We condemn the violence and terror attacks that continue in Afghanistan, killing civilians and
representatives of government bodies and call for their cessation as soon as possible.
We note that the activities of international terrorist organisations remain one of the key factors of
instability in that country," the Joint Statement said.
"We urge all parties involved in the conflict in Afghanistan to refrain from the use of force and actions
that may lead to destabilisation and unpredictable consequences near the Afghan borders with
the SCO states," the statement said.
Dr Jaishankar in his speech also said that the "future of Afghanistan cannot be its past". A whole new generation has
different expectations, he said adding, "We should not let them down".
Dr Jaishankar stressed that Peace negotiations in earnest "is the only answer".
"An acceptable compromise that reflects Doha process, Moscow format and Istanbul process is essential".
"The challenge is to act seriously and sincerely on these beliefs. Because there are forces at work with
a very different agenda," he said.
It is well known that Pakistan's intent on issues related to terrorism, violence in Afghanistan and aiding and
abetting Taliban is always held in question, and thus Dr Jaishankar's remarks have significance of their
own.
Laying down a roadmap, Dr Jaishankar said, "The world, region and the Afghan people all want the
same end state - Firstly, an independent, neutral, unified, peaceful, democratic and prosperous nation (Afghanistan)"
where there is no violence and no terrorist attacks against civilians and state representatives.
He said all issues ought to settle conflict through political dialogue and it must be ensured that there is
respect to "interests of all ethnic groups".
The representatives of the SCO countries including Dr Jaishankar will travel on Thursday to
Tashkent along with representatives of about 40 countries for a “Central and South Asia” conference.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani are likey to share stage.
Hosted by Uzbekistan President Shovkat Mirziyoyev, the US Special Envoy on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad,
is also likely to attend the meet.
Taliban militants have claimed to have taken control of some border check-posts along Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
On Wednesday, Taliban claimed it had also taken control of the main Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing with Pakistan.
Meanwhile, former US President George W Bush, who in 2001 post 9/11 had decided for waging a war in Afghanistan,
on Wednesday criticised the withdrawal of Nato troops from Afghanistan.
“Laura (Bush) and I spent a lot of time with Afghan women, and they're scared. And I think about all the
interpreters and people that helped not only US troops but Nato troops, and it seems like they're just going
to be left behind to be slaughtered by these very brutal people," Bush told a German broadcaster.
ends
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