Pak-Afghan dialogue leads to a joint declaration

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Afghanistan and Pakistan have mutually agreed to enhance defence cooperation between their security forces and intelligence agencies. A joint statement on the matter was issued at the end of a two-day dialogue between parliamentary committees on defence from both countries. The deliberations were followed by a joint declaration signed by both countries.

“It was stressed that the security establishments of Pakistan and Afghanistan should identify and isolate common threats and that there is a need to keep open, all channels of communication between the two countries,” members of the parliament (MPs) at the Defence Committees’ Dialogue said.

Both sides agreed that the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2014 will leave a vacuum. Civil society and democratic institutions from within Afghanistan and from its neighboring countries will have to play a vital role in strategically filling that vacuum.

Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed represented Pakistan during the two-day dialogue whereas Acting Chairman Internal Security and Local Administration Committee of Meshrano Jirga of Afghan parliament Mohammad Dawood Asass spoke on behalf of his country.

Parliamentarians from both countries agreed that it is the need of the hour to join hands against forces struggling to destabilize democracy. The importance of deciding future strategy against terrorist forces with a joint approach was discussed at great length. Another important topic of discussion involved the strategies to enhancing cross-border communication between younger generations.