Dushanbe, 3 June 2022 (TDI): On 27th May, the fourth regional security dialogue on Afghanistan took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
National security advisors and secretaries from eight regional countries attended the two-day meeting. These countries included Russia, India, Iran, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan itself.
The important issues discussed in the meeting were Afghanistan’s security, counter-terrorism, refugees, and foreign interference in the country.
Cheng Guoping, External Security Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs represented China at the meeting,
Calling Afghanistan the “heart” of Asia, Cheng said the evolution of Afghanistan’s security situation has implications for regional security and stability.
Discussion of Afghan Security Situation
President Xi Jinping’s recent Global Security Initiative emphasized the importance of upholding the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. It also focuses on jointly maintaining world peace and security.
China’s stance on Afghanistan was that they are ready to uphold this spirit and collaborate with regional countries. They would also assist Afghanistan in developing a comprehensive response to challenges.
The meeting’s Dushanbe Statement applauds the Tunxi Initiative. The initiative was adopted at the Third Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Among Afghanistan’s Neighboring Countries in late March
The dialogue calls on all parties to increase support for Afghanistan. This support would be in the areas of the economy, humanitarian aid, connectivity, trade, and internal capacity building.
This regional security dialogue reaffirms non-interference in Afghan internal affairs. The “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned” principle, additionally, calls on countries with responsibility for Afghanistan to take seriously their commitments to economic reconstruction and future development. It also opposes the politicization of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Furthermore, the Afghan should not allow Terrorist organizations to use Afghan territory to hide, train, plot, or sponsor any terrorist activities targeting any country in the region. They must not take part in any activity that ensures the development of such groups.
Afghanistan is at a critical juncture in its transition from chaos to stability. Development requires a certain level of security.
In conclusion, China is willing to continue working with regional countries to improve communication and coordination, build consensus and synergy, and make unwavering efforts to assist Afghanistan in achieving long-term peace and stability as soon as possible.
The Tunxi Initiative
The Tunxi initiative is the humanitarian assistance, connectivity, economy and trade, agriculture, energy, and capacity building, all parties agree to support Afghanistan’s economic reconstruction.
All parties agree to provide additional humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and urge the international community to do more to assist the country in restoring cash liquidity and avoiding humanitarian disasters.
