The armed forces of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan have formed a Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) to counter terrorism.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday said that the inaugural meeting of QCCM was held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, China by the armed forces and militaries of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

The meeting was attended by Afghan National Army Chief of General Staff (CGS) Qadam Shah Shahim, Chinese Department of Central Military Commission (CMC) Chief of Joint Staff General Fang Fenghui, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif and Tajikistan First Deputy Defence Minister and armed forces CGS Major General EA Cobidrzoda.

The participants unanimously agreed that terrorism and extremism are a serious threat to regional stability and fully appreciated the efforts taken by the militaries of the four countries against terrorism and extremism. They reiterated to cooperate for tackling these forces for peace and stability of all the member countries.

It was agreed to establish the QCCM to coordinate and provide mutual support limited to four countries only in the fields of counter terrorism, situation evaluation, clue verification, intelligence sharing, counter terrorism capacity building, counter terrorism joint training exercises and personnel training. It was also agreed that all the decisions reached by the QCCM would be based on mutual consultation and consensus.

The parties agreed that the QCCM should adhere to the principles of UN charter and other universally recognised principles and norms of international law, especially those on maintaining peace and security, safe guarding independence and equality with mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.

It was emphasised that the formation of QCCM was not targeted against any other state or international organisation.