Ashgabat in sync with Islamabad on terror fight

Two countries sign eight accords including one on financial intelligence sharing

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Turkmenistan said on Wednesday that the threat of extremism and terrorism need to be countered collectively to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Appearing before the media after a round of delegation-level talks, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said their two countries shared similar views on important issues. Nawaz said Pakistan shared the concern that terrorism and extremism were the root cause of insecurity and instability in the region.  “This menace also undermines our endeavours for socio-economic development. We have to work collectively to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and extremism,” he told reporters at the Prime Minister House.



President Berdimuhamedov, who arrived earlier Wednesday on a two-day visit of Pakistan, said the two countries were facing common challenges and “combating common threats is our goal”.

Premier Nawaz said both Pakistan and Turkmenistan have good coordination at international forums, and would continue to work together for regional and international peace and security. He added that it was his third meeting with the Turkmen leader in nine months, which reflected the depth, warmth and cordiality of ties between the two countries.

He said Pakistan’s deep seaports provide the shortest route to the Arabian Sea to Turkmenistan and other Central Asian states. “We will be happy to see our brothers in Central Asia use these facilities.”

The prime minister said regional connectivity was an important pillar of Pakistan’s Vision 2025, aimed at making the country a hub of regional trade and commerce.  “We are closely working with Turkmenistan for improving infrastructure development for better regional connectivity.”



He hoped the Pakistan-Turkmenistan Business Forum would also facilitate bilateral trade and investment, and said regular business-to-business contacts would further strengthen economic ties between the two nations.



Premier Nawaz termed the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India (TAPI) a ‘mega-energy cooperation project’ in the region. It would greatly help Pakistan in mitigating the shortage of natural gas in the country.

President Berdimuhamedov said early completion of the TAPI project would not only solidify relations between all the participating countries, but would also create new opportunities. “The gas line will bring warmth and cordiality, and generate economic activity, create job opportunities and improve the living standards.”

The Turkmen leader said TAPI had had a great impetus to boost socio-economic cooperation and hoped the project would soon be implemented. He said the two countries also had great cooperation in culture, science and education, relations dating back to centuries, and a desire to reach out to the people in neighbouring countries.

Premier Nawaz said regional energy projects would facilitate regional connectivity and contribute to peace, stability and security by creating interdependence in the region.

President Berdimuhamedov said talks between the two sides also focused on cooperation in these vital areas. He hoped his Pakistan visit would prove to be beneficial and open new vistas of cooperation between them. He wished for peace, progress and prosperity of Pakistan.



Earlier, the two leaders had a one-on-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks.   The two sides also discussed prospects of cooperation in diverse fields, including defence and security, counter-terrorism, education and science and technology.

The Pakistan side included Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PM’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, National Security Advisor Nasser Khan Janjua and Ambassador to Turkmenistan Dr Abdul Malik.

The Turkmen side included Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the cabinet of ministers Yagshigeldi Kakayev and Minister of Finance Muhammetguly Muhammedov.

The two countries also signed eight accords on cooperation, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on financial intelligence to curb money laundering and terrorism financing. Premier Nawaz and President Berdimuhammadov witnessed the signing ceremony as the respective sides inked the documents and also signed the joint communique.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2016.