Pakistan, Afghanistan, China & Tajikistan armed forces form body to counter terrorism

RAWALPINDI (92 News) – The inaugural high-level leader meeting on Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in counter terrorism by Afghanistan-China-Pakistan-Tajikistan armed forces/ militaries (the mechanism herein after referred to as the QCCM) was held in Urumqi, Xingjian Uygur autonomous region, China, on Wednesday. COAS General Raheel Sharif (Pakistan Army), Qadam Shah Shahim, CGS Afghan National Army, General Fang Fenghui, Chief of Joint Staff Department of Central Military Commission (CMC) and Major General EA Cobidrzoda, First Deputy Defence Minister and CGS Tajikistan armed forces participated in the meeting. The participants unanimously agreed that terrorism and extremism are serious threat to regional stability. They fully appreciated the unremitting efforts taken by the militaries of the four countries against the forces of terrorism and extremism. They reiterated to cooperate for tackling these forces for peace and stability of all 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 decisions made 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 recognized 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 emphasized that formation of the QCCM was not targeted against any other state or international organization.