Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia to intensify cooperation

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia on Friday agreed to intensify co-operation, in line with other initiatives of the international community, on fighting terrorism, combating illegal drug production and trafficking as well as promoting good-neighbourly relations, regional stability and sustainable development.
The agreement reached as Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Afghan and Russian counterparts R.D Spanta, and S. Lavrov met here following the instructions of the presidents of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Russian Federation after their trilateral meeting in Yekaterinburg on June 15 this year. According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the foreign ministers discussed the prospects of tripartite co-operation between the three countries.
The ministers, in particular, decided to explore the potential of tripartite co-operation in the areas of border control, exchange of information on terrorist activities and organisations, training of anti-terrorist and anti-drug police personnel, as well as promoting tolerance and inter-cultural dialogue, tripartite cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
They recognised that the terrorist threat could not be countered solely by enforcement measures and that these measures must be accompanied by national and international efforts to promote socio-economic rehabilitation and development of the region.
Ministers emphasised that terrorist activities were largely financed by the proceeds from illegal drug trafficking. They expressed their conviction that the fight against the narcotic threat must be intensified and focussed on all elements of the drug chain: cultivation, production, trafficking, consumption and supply of precursors.
The Ministers called upon the international community in Afghanistan, in co-operation with the Government of Afghanistan, to take additional specific steps to combat the drug threat in a more determined manner. The ministers shared the view that the effectiveness of the fight against the drug trafficking should be enhanced by the provision of alternative livelihood programmes in the rural areas of Afghanistan. The ministers agreed to the need for tripartite economic co-operation, including ways and means to facilitate regional trade, increase foreign investments and develop projects in energy, transport, infrastructure and training.
They stressed the importance of measures to create favourable investment climate and encourage direct contacts between the business communities. The ministers reaffirmed their countries' intention to expand interaction on matters of mutual interest in the United Nations, under the auspices of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, as well as other international and regional fora. The ministers agreed to study and develop a common vision and common perspective for peace and development of the region.