Pakistan, China, Iran: Four countries reiterated their support for Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful country, free from terrorism, war and drugs, and said they support effective regional initiatives aimed at…
Pakistan, China, Iran
Pakistan and its key neighbours, China and Iran, along with Russia, have opposed the establishment of a US military base anywhere in or around Afghanistan. The four-nation group has called for respect for Kabul’s “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity”, an official statement said. The four countries have registered their protest at a time when US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire for his country’s military presence in Afghanistan.
The fourth quadrilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia took place in New York on Thursday on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. A joint statement on the meeting was later shared by Pakistan’s Foreign Office. “The four sides stressed that Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be respected and firmly opposed the re-establishment of military bases in and around Afghanistan by countries responsible for the current situation.” Joint statement.
On which Issue four countries express commitment
The four countries reiterated their support for Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful nation, free from terrorism, war, and drugs, and stated their support for effective regional initiatives aimed at boosting its economy. Significantly, Pakistan’s participation in this campaign comes at a time when Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir recently met US President Donald Trump, heaping praise on him and inviting him to exploit their country’s mineral resources.
Concerns over security in Afghanistan
They expressed concern over the security situation in Afghanistan in the wake of terrorism, warning that ISIL, Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and other groups in the region, including the Majeed Brigade, continue to pose a threat to regional and global security. The two countries emphasised that peace, stability, and combating terrorism, radicalism, and drug crime in Afghanistan are shared regional interests.
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