Bilateral mechanism set up: Islamabad, Kabul agree to repair strained ties

Arrangement will focus on promoting consultation on key issues.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan established a high-level bilateral mechanism on Friday as part of efforts to repair their strained relationship, according to an official announcement after Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz held talks with the Afghan Foreign Minister and the National Security Adviser in Tashkent.

Aziz met Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and NSA Haneef Atmar on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

The meeting took place at the request of the PM Adviser to resolve the controversy surrounding new border rules Pakistan started implementing from June 1 at the Torkham border.

Building upon ideas generated in the meeting between Foreign Secretary and Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister in Islamabad on June 20, both countries agreed to set up a high level bilateral mechanism, said a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office after talks in Tashkent.

The new arrangement will primarily focus on promoting consultation and coordination on key issues, including bilateral relations and cooperation on security and movement of people and vehicles between the two countries.

The statement said that the proposed mechanism would be co-chaired by Adviser Sartaj Aziz and Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and would include the National Security Advisers of both countries.

“It will also have a joint technical working group to deal with the concerns of both countries,” the statement added.

According to the Foreign Office, this Mechanism would be not only address and amicably resolve issues of mutual concern but also prevent the recurrence of violent incidents such as the recent incident in Torkham.

Both sides also took this opportunity to review other aspects of bilateral relations.

They reaffirmed respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and adherence to the principle of non-interference into each other’s internal affairs.

Adviser Aziz and Foreign Minister Rabbani reiterated the mutual desire for strengthening bilateral ties for promoting peace, stability, counter terrorism and economic progress of both the countries.

It was also agreed to enhance mutual engagement in diverse areas to deepen cooperation, the joint communique stated.

Both sides specifically expressed firm commitment to continue serious efforts towards eliminating terrorism.

They also stressed the need for continuing joint efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan through timely and concrete actions resulting in tangible outcomes, including in the framework of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group process.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2016.