Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Ghani and Sharif Agree to Ramp up Joint Fight Against Terrorism

Ghani and Sharif  Agree to Ramp up Joint  Fight Against Terrorism

KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif this weekend held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana in Kazakhstan and agreed to intensify their joint efforts to fight terrorism.
Ghani’s office said in a statement that Sharif joined the president in condemning the recent terror attacks, especially the wave of violence in Kabul following the May 31 truck bombing in the city that killed over 150 people and wounded hundreds more.
Those who died were innocent Afghans, but the target appeared to be diplomatic sites – an act against the Geneva Convention, said the statement.
Ghani meanwhile said in the statement: “The increase of violence especially during Ramadan and at the funeral of martyrs was unacceptable.” He stressed the urgency to reduce the level of violence against civilians in Afghanistan.
He also said: “It is therefore imperative that Pakistan and Afghanistan join hands to eliminate these terrorist networks and their sanctuaries as well as support infrastructure”.
The two leaders also agreed to hold meetings to agree on specific actions, and to monitor and verify the actions taken against such terrorist groups.
According to the statement, the two leaders agreed to intensify their joint and urgent efforts to fight terrorism in all of its forms that threaten the security and stability of the two countries, the region and beyond.
The two leaders agreed to use Quadrilateral Coordination Group mechanism and where necessary bilateral meetings to agree on specific and concrete actions, and monitor and verify the actions taken against such terrorist groups.
The statement said they also agreed to assign working teams to put together their plans to coordinate and intensify urgent measures to eliminate such terrorist networks in their respective territories. The first meeting will be hosted in Kabul followed up by Islamabad.
The leaders agreed to use the QCG to promote peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. It includes China and the United States, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The statement said Afghanistan is willing to have peace. He further added: “The Afghan government has not only shown its will but also displayed its capacity to make peace as it did with the Hizb-e-Islami. This is the first peace of such kind in 40 years.”
But he said the Taliban do not have more time as the patience of the Afghan people and the international community has been exhausted by their heinous acts of terror.
The two leaders further agreed they would take all necessary measures against those groups who refuse to join the peace process. (Tolonews)