Rawalpindi, 7 May 2023 (TDI): At his office, General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan COAS, held a meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, Acting Afghan Minister for Foreign Affairs, to discuss several topics of mutual interest, such as regional security, border management, and formalizing bilateral security mechanisms to improve the current security situation.
COAS highlighted the need for increased cooperation between the two neighboring countries to effectively tackle the challenges of terrorism and extremism.
He also emphasized the importance of the Afghan Interim Government’s full support and commitment in matters of mutual interest.
Foreign Minister Muttaqi expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s consistent support to the Afghan people and recognized Pakistan’s role in facilitating peace and development in Afghanistan. He also expressed his desire to collaborate closely with Pakistan to promote regional stability and prosperity.
Both sides acknowledged the significance of maintaining regular communication to strengthen bilateral ties and address common concerns.
Also Read: China-Pakistan Counter Common Security Challenges
The COAS reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to promoting a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan.
Chinese Foreign Minister’s Visit to Pakistan
China’s Foreign Minister recently arrived in Pakistan for the fourth round of Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. Pakistan also hosted the fifth China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on May 6th, where productive discussions took place on political engagement, counter-terrorism, trade, and connectivity. Pakistan is looking forward to advancing the common agenda for regional cooperation under the trilateral framework.
Celebrating the completion of a decade of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2023, both sides hailed it as a prime example of Belt and Road cooperation that has hastened socio-economic development, job creation, and improved the lives of people in Pakistan. Reiterating their commitment to the high-quality development of CPEC, both sides expressed their satisfaction with the steady progress of CPEC projects.
Emphasizing the key significance of the ML-1 project under the CPEC framework, both sides agreed to accelerate its earliest implementation. They also agreed to actively promote the Karachi Circular Railway, along with various other areas of cooperation such as agriculture, science and technology, IT, and renewable energy.
In addition, the two sides reviewed the progress of several projects at Gwadar, including the Friendship Hospital and the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA). Both sides renewed their determination to transform Gwadar into a high-quality port and a hub for regional trade and connectivity.
