Pakistan will join member countries of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) to hold regular joint anti-terrorism exercises, said an official of the SCOs secretariat here on Thursday.
Talking to APP, the official said Pakistan has been a major player in fight against terrorism and showed keen interest taking an identical position on security issues of common concern.
The member countries appreciate Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism and maintain regional peace, he said adding, they are looking forward work together with Pakistan and other observer countries facing new challenges mainly "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as drug trafficking, cross-border crimes and illegal trafficking and sale of weapons.
The official said that upcoming SCO summit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen their interaction on the security issues. Pakistan has already signed a series of documents in this field and set up a relevant mechanism of co-operation.
According to the sources, the member states including China and Russia had signed a co-operation agreement against the trafficking of narcotics in June 2004. The SCO had also assisted the Afghan government's anti-drugs campaign and set up a liaison group with Afghanistan last year.
On the day the SCO was founded, the six heads of state signed the Shanghai Pact on fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism, Hu said. A regional anti-terror centre was launched in Tashkent during the SCO summit in 2004.
"The SCO is one of the earliest international organisations to hold up the banner of fighting against terrorism, and has played an important role in co-ordinating anti-terrorism co-operation among member states," he added.
The SCO had held three joint anti-terrorism exercises, Hu said adding, member states had co-operated in information exchanges and judicatory assistance. Next year, SCO member states will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise in Russia.
"All these measures have produced and will continue to exert an active influence in enhancing the capability to combat terrorism and maintaining regional peace and stability," he added.
Established in 2001, the SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Since 2004, the SCO as accepted Pakistan, Mongolia, Iran, and India as observers.
Comments
Comments are closed.