Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir has stressed the need for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan to “effectively” tackle the common challenges of terrorism and extremism.

This came during a meeting with Acting Afghan Minister for Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is here for bilateral meetings, in Islamabad, said a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Sunday.

The army chief reiterated the need for full “support and commitment” from the interim Afghan government in “matters of mutual interest”.

COAS Munir and Afghan Acting FM Muttaqi discussed issues of mutual interest – including aspects related to regional security, border management, and formalisation of bilateral security mechanisms for improvement in the current security environment.

The interim Afghan foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s support for the people of Afghanistan and acknowledged the “important role” that Islamabad continued to play in facilitating peace and development in Kabul. He also expressed his desire to work closely with Pakistan to promote regional stability and prosperity.

Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining regular contact to strengthen bilateral ties and address issues of common concern.

The army chief reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan.

Pakistan expressed hope on Saturday that the trilateral dialogue would create further consensus on the issue of Afghanistan among countries of the region. “Pakistan and China were committed to helping in the reconstruction of Afghanistan,” he said at a media briefing, alongside Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in the federal capital.

Pakistan hosted the fifth China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers dialogue at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. The trilateral forum was established two years ago, and the earlier meetings were held in Beijing and Kabul in 2017 and 2018.

Bilawal, China’s Gang, and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held productive discussions on matters of mutual concern.

Meeting with Chinese FM

COAS General Syed Asim Munir met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang at his office, said the statement from the armed forces’ media wing. Matters of mutual interest including regional security and defence cooperation came under discussion.

COAS Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the China-Pakistan strategic relationship. He pledged full support for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, which is a vital component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

He appreciated China’s “unwavering support” for Pakistan on regional and international issues.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang underscored the importance of the longstanding strategic relationship between the two nations and expressed his satisfaction with the progress made on the CPEC while “reiterating China’s commitment to its timely completion”.

He appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in “maintaining regional peace and stability, especially the support of Pakistan’s armed forces for the provision of security to Chinese nationals and projects” in Pakistan.

The two dignitaries discussed the evolving security situation in the region. The COAS acknowledged China’s role in promoting peace in the region and both sides agreed to enhance their existing cooperation in defense and security domains to counter common security challenges.

“The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides reiterating their resolve to further strengthen the time-tested, all-weather friendship between Pakistan and China,” said the statement.