ISLAMABAD: Experts at a conference here said only through a collective approach and joint strategy, can Pakistan and Afghanistan eliminate the threats jeopardizing regional security and foster economic cooperation and connectivity.
In the interest of trade and people-to-people relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as the region at large, the socioeconomic life should be insulated from political disputes.
The Pakistan Afghanistan Civil Society Conference on exploring approaches for regional peace and stability was organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in collaboration with its Afghan partner Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP).
The dialogue brought together prominent civil society stakeholders from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to discuss pressing issues and potential approaches oriented towards solutions. Despite ongoing border closures, the dialogue demonstrated a commitment to cooperation and moving in the right direction.
The speakers said while the informal actors of diplomacy may not have the mandate to solve the problems of bilateral or regional concern, they can still generate actionable recommendations and develop joint proposals necessary to inform the policy actors inside the formal channels of diplomacy and reach a solution. The issue of Afghan girls’ education must not be left to chance but conscious efforts to change the status quo.
The participants emphasized the importance of addressing security threats posed by groups like Al-Qaeda, TTP and IS to the entire region. They stressed the need for a joint strategy – with regional approach at its core – to counter these proxy terrorist organizations.
While acknowledging the tension in Chitral as a serious security challenge, they recognized the need to understand the mentalities of these extremist groups to be able to cope with them and encouraged diplomatic engagement to resolve issues, instead of media allegations and blame game.
There was consensus on the need for a collective approach to address extremist threats in the region. Participants highlighted the importance of reciprocal and equal relationships between nations.
The issue of refugees and their treatment was also discussed, acknowledging its impact on trust and mistrust between the two countries. The dialogue emphasized the importance of insulating social-economic life from unresolved issues and putting contentious matters on the back burner. Indigenous peacebuilding frameworks were also encouraged.
In the session on economic cooperation, participants highlighted the importance of economic prosperity, trade, and border stability while stressing that economic cooperation should not be affected by political or security issues.
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