Pakistan

CPEC benefits can be shared with Afghanistan: army chief

General Raheel addresses South Asia Security Conference in Munich, Germany

Web Desk September 29, 2015

Army Cheif General Raheel Sharif. PHOTO: ISPR

Army chief General Raheel Sharif said on Tuesday a peaceful Afghanistan would open regional connectivity and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor benefits could be shared between the two countries.

"Practical steps are required to manage the Pak-Afghan border for the gainful conclusion of Operation Zarb-e-Azb," said the army chief while addressing the South Asia Security Conference in Marshal Centre in Munich, Germany.

#COAS addressed CENTCOM Asia Security Conf in Marshal Centre Munich,Germany pic.twitter.com/jfSDCXkZC8
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 29, 2015

Read: Army chief arrives in Germany to address security conference

Further, the army chief said perpetual instability in Afghanistan has negatively affected the region. General Raheel insisted that peace and reconciliation in the neighbouring country was of vital importance for the whole region.

“It is essential for socio-economic development of Pakistan to address menace of extremism,” he added.

#COAS in CENTCOM Asia Security Conf.Regional Peace&security discussed.Perpetual instability in Afgn had telling effects on the region-1
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 29, 2015

General Raheel urged all stakeholders to revive the peace and reconciliation process to address the recent surge of violence and instability in Afghanistan.

Despite hurdles,peace&recon of vital importance 4 Larger settlement in Afgn.#COAS Stressed on all stake holders to revive recon-2
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 29, 2015

The army chief went on to say that instability within and outside Pakistan has deeply affected the country, however, economic opportunities have opened up not only for Pakistan but the whole region after the army’s recent approach to thwart terrorism.

Read: Pakistan bound to defeat all perpetrators of terrorism: Army chief

Highlighted instability within&without has deeply affected socio-eco climate in Pak.With current approaches to restore stability within,..-3
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 29, 2015

..has opened up Eco opportunities for Pak&the region.Practical steps required to manage Pak-Afgn borders 4 gainful conclusion of Op Z-e-A-4
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 29, 2015

A peaceful Afgn can open regional connectivity.CPEC benefits can be shared.Essential 4 socio-Eco dev of Pak to address menace of extremism-5
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 29, 2015

The army chief arrived in Munich on Monday on a one-day official visit to take part in the CENTCOM Asia Security Conference.

COMMENTS (23)

Jaihoon | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan has empirically proved itself to be an enemy state and Afghans arguably consider it as such- except boneheaded Ghani, who thinks and acts otherwise.

Jaihoon | 9 years ago | Reply Afghans do not want CPEC benefits. All what they want is the Pakistani generals should stop forthwith their aiding and abetting the Afghan thugs. The Iranian port of Chabahar, is an ideal port for Afghan transit trade. Afghans want to cut off trade with Pakistan and block its access to Central Asia because of its relentless interference in their countries affairs.

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kamal | 9 years ago | Reply My dear Indian trolls and their supporters: He only meant to rightfully irritate India. Saying everything Pakistan can share with everyone - except India. I feel sorry for you guys being left out in the cold. Try reaching Chahbahar by road from India. LOLL

Zahid | 9 years ago | Reply General Raheel Sharif is right, he is a very decent person He can also answer all Indian and Afghanistan but he knows how to handle these kinds of comments General Raheel Sharif Zindabad Pakistan paindabad

Jaihoon | 9 years ago | Reply General Raheel should know that the building of the Iranian port of Chabahar, would definitely overshadow the Gwadar port And Afghanistan is most likely to block Pakistan's overland access to Central Asia via Afghanistan because of the former continual interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs

Muhammad | 9 years ago | Reply @ABK Ind: He is certainly aware of the UN conference relating to Afghan peace which was attended by America, China and Pakistan. India was not invited as it is believed to have no effective role to play in the matter. This certainly was Pakistan diplomatic win while Modi filled his time in the Silicon Valley!

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Not his job. The recent article by Owen Bennett Jones seems to be spot on. Nawaz Sharif is always successful in undermining the civilian rule by bringing the elephant in the room.

vinsin | 9 years ago | Reply Real PM of Pakistan, please stand up. Let the CPEC get complete then think or talk about sharing. Open connectivity will help Pakistan not Afghanistan that much.

Sandip | 9 years ago | Reply @Muhibullah: Tread carefully dear. Do you want to take away the rank of "Field Marshall" that is so much in the General's grasp? Are you not afraid of the midnight knock on your door?

Sandip | 9 years ago | Reply @Point: The very reason why you had to host them in the first place are the games that you guys played and in the process wreaked havoc on that blighted country. Games that continue to this day. Have you counted the number of lives lost in Afghanistan when your "assets" have been on a killing spree over the years. And then you want the Afghans to be ever grateful to you guys for hosting their families who became refugees because of your deliberate policies?

PR | 9 years ago | Reply Magnificent Delusions

Shakil | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan and Afghanistan, why you Indian trolls has to poke in here?

HMI | 9 years ago | Reply Meanwhile Chinese have already started dominating Pakistan Recent being, a Pakistani restaurant being forcefully shut as it refused to give preferential treatment to a Chinese delegation during rush hours !

NS | 9 years ago | Reply @Point: Do you know why you allowed them in and have kept them for so long? Nothing but money money money and money.Oh, yes and the weapons which could also be converted into money. Learn about your past and mend your ways. Tides are changing and these tantrums will not take you any where any more.

Muhibullah | 9 years ago | Reply This is such an important conference that gen Raheel had to fly off to Germany to attend that there's no mention of it on the Marshall Center website http://www.marshallcenter.org or the CENTCOM website http://www.centcom.mil/ nor has the international media given it any coverage.

Ayati | 9 years ago | Reply Trying hard to woo o disgrutled Afghan leadership, eh? Sartja Aziz saying he is ready to moderate peace talks with Taliban, R Sherif is ready to share CPEC with Afghanistan, but Ghani saying you are not a brotherly state, Abdullah asking to do more on terrorism. What's happening here!

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply Why call the guy COAS and not CEO who shares the governnce of the country with the civilian CEO? Pakistan army corporation is trying to reach the status of the Egyptian army which controls the economy of the country. Rex Minor

ABC | 9 years ago | Reply General is clearly exceeding his limits. Can we see him in plain clothes soon?

Point | 9 years ago | Reply NOT AT ALL. Enough of friendly one-sided attitude towards Afghans. We Pakistan's will strictly oppose anything that favors snake. We kept them here for years, and their leaders speak ill about us.

Zaida Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan's new Finance Minister has spoken.

Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply Masters of building castles in the air.

ABK Ind | 9 years ago | Reply Very strange at one end Afghanis are complaining that Pakistan must control the terrorism on their side which is affecting Afghanistan, & the Pakistan Army chief is planning to share CPEC benefits with Afghanistan?? Is he not following the UN summit??

SKChadha | 9 years ago | Reply It is joke of the day. If that be so, Pakistan is already having road from Torkham to Karachi and Lahore? What is stopping Pakistan to deny sharing these routs with Afghanistan? For Afghanistan the road from Chabahar or Lahore is more economical and convenient, in case Pakistan is agreeable for Afghan trade with Gulf States or India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar etc.

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