Kasuri calls for SCO role to fight terror

TASHKENT—Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said that Pakistan continues to follow the Shanghai process with great interest since its inception, eleven years ago.
He expressed these views at the sixth meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
He said that as an observer, Pakistan was gratified to have been associated with SCO, since 2005, and has participated regularly and at the highest level at this forum, which has afforded us the opportunity to appreciate more clearly, the young organization’s promise and prospects, he said. He also applauded SCO’s steady development and planned expansion in specific areas of cooperation on the basis of the principals of mutual trust, equality of sovereign nations, respect for territorial integrity and diversity of cultures and a common aspiration for development.
He further said that Pakistan was happy to note that SCO is geared towards addressing contemporary challenges and the most pressing issues concerning regional security, which range from narcotics and terrorism to information environmental and energy security.
Kasuri further said that the Bishkek Declaration adopted at the last Heads of States meeting has rightly highlighted the growing interdependence of nations, the need to formulate a new international security agenda in strict compliance of acceptance norms of international law and the vital linkage that exists between security and economic development. Similarly, he said that Pakistan has adopted a comprehensive strategy combining political, administrative, economic and military measures to eliminate violence and extremism from our society.
At the regional plan, Pakistan and Afghanistan have jointly launched the Grand Peace Jirga initiative, a process that aims to address the problem at the local levels to bring peace, and Pakistan was confident of a positive outcome of this process, he added. He further said that Pakistan views with appreciation the strides that SCO has taken in forging closer cooperation among Member States in the economic sphere. The Business Council and the Inter-Bank Consortium are useful tools for strengthening economic linkages. The Pakistani business community and financial sector would be happy to contribute to the effective functioning of both these institutions.
Kasuri said as an Observer, Pakistan is gratified to have been associated with SCO adding that since 2005, Pakistan has participated regularly and at the highest level at this forum. He said he also takes this opportunity to once again register Pakistan’s interest in joining SCO as full member, which has been put on hold pending finalization of relevant regulations. “We feel that expansion will enrich the Organization and serve the interests of the broader region. Pakistan would like to see early progress on this score, “ he added.
Referring to performance of SCO, the Foreign Minister said, “We applaud SCO’s steady development and planned expansion in specific areas of cooperation on the basis of the principles of mutual trust, equality of sovereign nations, respect for territorial integrity and diversity of cultures, and a common aspiration for development.”—Agencies