Afghan, Pak MPs agree to join hands against common threats

KABUL: (MEP) – The first-ever dialogue between Senate Standing Committee on Defense and Defense Production of Pakistan and Defense, Internal Security and Local Administration Committee of Meshrano Jirga of Afghan Parliament took place in Kabul on Tuesday and Wednesday,

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, the two-day dialogue focused on issues including security and the defense cooperation between the two countries; existing and emerging challenges in Pak-Afghan relations; cross-border terrorism, narcotics smuggling; border management, challenges of 2014 NATO withdrawal and Afghanistan peace process and institutionalizing Pak-Afghan defense parliamentary dialogue.

Parliamentarians from both sides agreed to enhance the defense cooperation between the two countries while developing bilateral cooperation between the armed forces and security agencies of Pakistan and Afghanistan. They agreed that in the best interest of both countries’ people, the two brother nations should move forward with a joint approach on important national and regional issues, and should have a joint strategy on security issues affecting the both countries. It was stressed that by connecting with each other and, with the region and outside world, full economic potential of this area and the people can be actualized.

The MPs at the defense committees’ dialogue agreed if Pakistan and Afghanistan join hands together the two armed forces can manage their respective internal security problems in a more reasonable and effective way. They stressed that the Security establishments of Pakistan and Afghanistan should identify and isolate the common threat.

It was stressed that there is a need to keep all the channels of communication open between the two countries. The MPs agreed that after withdrawal of US and ISAF forces from Afghanistan in 2014, there may be possibility of a sense of a vacuum, which can only be filled if the civil society in Afghanistan and Pakistan given a chance to be strengthened while strengthening state and democracy in both countries. It was stressed that both countries should look for ways and means to establish better communication between the younger generations of the two countries in all fields.

It was also agreed that both countries should also cooperate with other to ensure protection of women and human rights in their respective countries. In order to institutionalize the dialogues between the defense committees of the two countries, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed at the dialogue.

Co-chaired by Senator Sayed Farrukh Shah Jenab, Secretary of the Meshrano Jirga, and Senator Haji Mohammed Daud Asas, Acting Chairman Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission of Meshrano Jirga, Members of the Afghan Parliament who joined the dialogue included Senator Gulali Akbari, Secretary, Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission of Meshrano Jirga, Senator Abdul Ahad Sultanzoy, Member Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission, Senator Saliha Mehrzad, Member Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission and Senator H Mohammed Amin Safi, Member Defense, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission, Meshrano Jirga.

There was also a large number of participation from the International Affairs Commission of Meshrano Jirga. The notable speakers from the International Commission Affairs were Senator Arif Ullah Pashtoon, Chairman, Member International Affairs Commission, Senator Nisar Ahmed Haress, Member International Affairs Commission, Meshrano Jirga, Senator Dr Hazrat Shah Nooristani, Member International Affairs Commission, Senator Mohammadin Humdard, Member International Affairs Commission, Senator Hafiz Abdul Qayyum, Member International Affairs Commission and Senator Usman Rehmani, Member International Affairs Commission. Other participants included Senator Maulwaee Abdul Wahab Erfan, Chairman National Economic Commission, Meshrano Jirga, Senator Mohammad Alam Ezdeyar, and First Deputy Chairman of the Meshrano Jirga, Senator Amin Ahmadi, and Member Meshrano Jirga Senator Mola Mohammed Faizi, Member Meshrano Jirga. The parliamentary staff of Meshrano jirga participated in the two-day dialogue too. Sayed Hafizullah Hashmi, Secretary General, Meshrano Jirga, Professor Shah Sultan Akifi, Deputy Secretary General, Meshrano Jirga, Mohammed Kazim Malwan, Advisor, Legislative Affairs, Meshrano Jirga and Fazal Rabi, Journalist, Meshrano Jirga.

Pakistani delegation was chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defense and Defense Production of Pakistan. MPs from Pakistan who participated in the dialogue included Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and member Senate Standing Committee on Defense and Defense Production, Senator Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Sehar Kamran, Member Senate Standing Committee on Defense and Defense Production, Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Convener Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Senate of Pakistan & Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, Senator Begum Najma Hameed, Member Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, Senator Dr. Muhammad Jehangir Bader, Member Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Senator Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail, Member Senate Standing Committee on Commerce, and Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, MNA, Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology and former member of the Senate Defence Committee.