DUSHANBE - The presidents of Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan met in Tajikistan on Friday and agreed that steps to downsize the foreign military presence in Afghanistan should be accompanied by the international coalition's joint efforts.
In a joint declaration signed in Dushanbe after a four-party meeting, the presidents reiterated their support for the Afghan government's efforts to promote "national reconciliation, as well as welcomed the beginning of a transfer of responsibility for security to the Afghan armed forces as part of the Kabul Process."

"The heads of state have noted that the recently launched reduction of the foreign military presence in Afghanistan should be accompanied by adequate steps by the participants in the international coalition to enhance their efforts to train and arm Afghan security structures and to help build a healthy and sustainable economy in the country," the leaders said in the statement.

The fight against terrorism, extremism and cross-border crime will benefit from more active cooperation between the agencies in charge of these issues, they said.

"Appropriate international and regional mechanisms, primarily the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization), as well as closer cooperation within the regional anti-terrorist structure of the SCO are relevant to achieve these goals," the presidents said. (Xinhua)