Bilateral group to formulate security suggestions for govt-level discussion to address mutual concerns

Army chief wants intelligence-sharing, border management to defeat transnational threat

QCCM signs outline cooperative mechanism which will come into force after its endorsement

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that terrorism being a transnational threat can only be defeated through intelligence-sharing and coordinated effective border management.

Addressing the meeting of the Quadrilateral Counter Terrorism Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) held here on Sunday, he highlighted achievements of Pakistan in fight against terrorism. The participants also signed an outline cooperative mechanism which will come into force after its endorsement by respective governments.

On sidelines of the event, General Bajwa met Afghan Chief of General Staff General Sharif Yaftali. During the meeting, the Afghan situation was discussed. Assuring cooperation to Afghanistan, the army chief said that Pakistan cannot bring Afghan war into Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan has already cleared all its areas indiscriminately and has started unilateral border security measures including fencing. Besides border security management, other key factor for enduring peace was dignified repatriation of the Afghan refugees.

The army chief reassured the Afghan side that Pakistan was open to any suggestion that facilitate peace in Afghanistan. In this spirit, he offered to form a Pak-Afghan army working group to jointly work and formulate security recommendations for the government-level discussion aimed at addressing mutual concerns.

The Afghan general agreed to the proposal and thanked General Bajwa for his relentless efforts towards peace. The meeting was attended by senior military leadership of member countries Gen Li Zuocheng from China, General Sobirzoda Imomali Abdurrahim from Tajikistan and General Sharif Yaftali from Afghanistan besides General Qamar Javed Bajwa from Pakistan.

All leaders welcomed the QCCM initiative and expressed the hope that an inclusive and cooperative regional approach will prove best for the eradication of terrorism.