�The Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentarians� Dialogue 5th round took place in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 29-30, 2011 on the overarching theme of terrorism. The Parliamentarians of the two countries held a candid dialogue while recognizing that both Pakistan and Afghanistan are victims of terrorism and joint efforts are needed to address this scourge.
Both sides agreed that while blame game is counter-productive and not a solution to this affliction, it is Parliamentary dialogue and Parliamentary support and oversight over executive in both countries for mutual cooperation on areas such as intelligence sharing, improved coordination on Counter-Terrorism Operations, install effective control on growth and supply of drugs fuelling terrorist-financing and terrorism in the region, and enhancing border security management that will help the two countries and the region rid itself of terrorism. They also believed that central banks of both Pakistan and Afghanistan should follow recommendations of Basel Committee III on supervision of Banks especially on Money Laundering and Terrorist financing.
Parliamentarians of the two countries agreed that the representative institutions of two countries should adopt a people-oriented approach to resolving bilateral issues and exercise greater control and oversight on key national policies including that of internal and external security and pursue independent national foreign policies that do not work at cross-purposes of each other. Parliamentarians believed that while remaining part of tripartite cooperation in the area of security, Pakistan and Afghanistan should also develop bilateral cooperation between the Armed Forces and Security Agencies of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Parliamentarians agreed that the two countries should institute, and effectively exercise, mechanisms to carry out due diligence of NGO funding in both countries and stress on international donors to help the two countries build indigenous and sustainable capabilities and facilities.
The Parliamentarians also agreed that visa free regime between Parliamentarians of two countries should be implemented immediately. Greater cooperation is needed in both countries, through support from each Parliament, on overseeing liberal visa policies, facilitating and enhancing communication networks including roads, rail and air travel, telephony and trade. Parliamentarians from two neighbouring countries also decided to support greater media interaction and exchange, both print and electronic, between the two countries by urging and facilitating both governments and independent media networks to operate in each other�s country. They also urged that Pakistani and Afghan investors and business persons should get reciprocal incentives in each country to strengthen business and trade.
The two sides also agreed that greater facilitation, support and opportunities need to be provided to Afghan students to study in Pakistan through scholarships, skill-enhancement and capacity-building programmes. Youth and Cultural Exchanges should be facilitated between the two countries and cricket should be promoted as a way of enhancing better people to people contact.
Parliamentarians believe that early return of Afghan refugees in Pakistan to Afghanistan with dignity and honour should be facilitated by both countries, and assisted by the United Nations. Moreover the two countries should sign a treaty of extradition of criminals on both sides, as well as set-up a Commission on Prisoners that could facilitate exchange of those prisoners who have not committed heinous crimes.
Parliamentarians also stressed that Parliaments of the two countries should work to remove trust deficit in the areas that strain the relationship between two brotherly countries. They agreed that the Parliaments of two countries should nudge and support their respective executive branches to enter into negotiations and in the future draft treaties on upcoming issues of interest to both countries that, once put in place, should be ratified by the two Parliaments.
The two sides agreed on the need for a follow up mechanism, appreciating the role of PILDAT that serves as a focal point and continues to provide support and assistance to the dialogue process. Dialogue is important for the two countries to achieve their potential and it was decided that institutionalisation and continuation of the dialogue will be facilitated which will periodically provide a forum to representatives of the two countries to take stock of their resolutions and decisions agreed to and recorded through joint declarations and dialogue proceedings.
Parliamentarians of Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed, upon conclusion of the dialogue, to move content of the joint declaration in the form of resolutions in respective Parliaments for adoption and follow up with the respective Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan.� |
