Tajik envoy calls IS threat to regional connectivity
Jononov acknowledges Pakistan’s sacrifices in fighting terrorism
PHOTO COURTESY: VOA
ISLAMABAD:
Tajikistan Ambassador Sherali Jononov on Wednesday termed emergence of Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan a new threat to connectivity between South and Central Asia through transit and energy corridors and called upon the international players to make coordinated efforts to bring peace and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan.
Briefing media persons on the occasion of a conference on countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism, Jononov said that connectivity between South and Central Asian countries is directly linked with peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The ambassadors of Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are also participating in the conference being held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Central and South Asia: Big nations in tussle to develop long economic corridors
He said Pakistan and Tajikistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and are responsible for bringing peace and stability in the region, being neighboring countries of Afghanistan.
Jononov stressed the need for international players to focus on energy and transit corridors as well as social development in Afghanistan to bring peace and stability for regional connectivity.
Responding to a question regarding US presence in Afghanistan, he said that Russia and Tajikistan, through a strategic partnership, are making efforts to bring peace in the country.
“Our major concern is the emergence of IS in Afghanistan, and the question is how these elements deployed on the borders of Iraq and Syria reached Afghanistan,” he said, adding that Tajikistan recognises the sacrifices made by Pakistan in countering terrorism for the sake of regional stability.
Trade with Central Asia: Minister for better linkages to increase trade
Responding to another question, he said that Central Asian states are closely working with Pakistan on transit, transport and energy corridors. He said that Casa power import project involving Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan has also entered into implementation phase.
“CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor] is a crucial project for regional cooperation and we want access to Gwadar port through it,” he said, adding that it would take time though. He said that construction work on TAPI pipeline project has been started to connect two regions through energy corridor.
Talking more about road passage between Pakistan and Central Asian States through the Wakhan corridor, Jononov said it would pass through Afghanistan. “Therefore, we need to discuss it with Afghanistan,” he added.
Tajikistan Ambassador Sherali Jononov on Wednesday termed emergence of Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan a new threat to connectivity between South and Central Asia through transit and energy corridors and called upon the international players to make coordinated efforts to bring peace and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan.
Briefing media persons on the occasion of a conference on countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism, Jononov said that connectivity between South and Central Asian countries is directly linked with peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The ambassadors of Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are also participating in the conference being held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Central and South Asia: Big nations in tussle to develop long economic corridors
He said Pakistan and Tajikistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and are responsible for bringing peace and stability in the region, being neighboring countries of Afghanistan.
Jononov stressed the need for international players to focus on energy and transit corridors as well as social development in Afghanistan to bring peace and stability for regional connectivity.
Responding to a question regarding US presence in Afghanistan, he said that Russia and Tajikistan, through a strategic partnership, are making efforts to bring peace in the country.
“Our major concern is the emergence of IS in Afghanistan, and the question is how these elements deployed on the borders of Iraq and Syria reached Afghanistan,” he said, adding that Tajikistan recognises the sacrifices made by Pakistan in countering terrorism for the sake of regional stability.
Trade with Central Asia: Minister for better linkages to increase trade
Responding to another question, he said that Central Asian states are closely working with Pakistan on transit, transport and energy corridors. He said that Casa power import project involving Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan has also entered into implementation phase.
“CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor] is a crucial project for regional cooperation and we want access to Gwadar port through it,” he said, adding that it would take time though. He said that construction work on TAPI pipeline project has been started to connect two regions through energy corridor.
Talking more about road passage between Pakistan and Central Asian States through the Wakhan corridor, Jononov said it would pass through Afghanistan. “Therefore, we need to discuss it with Afghanistan,” he added.