ISLAMABAD: National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf clearly stated on Wednesday that Pakistan does not wish to be part of any camp politics or geopolitical confrontation, and cautioned against spoilers, both within and outside Afghanistan, who does not prefer peace in the region.
“Pakistan’s vision for itself was that of a melting pot for positive global interests,” he said while speaking at the 16th meeting of the National Security Advisers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held at Dushanbe.
Member states issued a joint protocol signed by all the national security advisers, said the office of the NSA in a statement. Dr Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan’s main priority of generating greater economic activity, and reducing un-employment and poverty alleviation were completely in sync with the SCO’s direction. He apprised them about Pakistan’s success in fighting COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed the need to counter pandemic’s negative economic impact and highlighted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s efforts to champion the Global Initiative for Debt Relief.
Moeed Yusuf said that the vision of the transformed Pakistan was centred on economic security, adding that the country’s emphasis had shifted from geo-politics to geo-economics. Speaking on Afghanistan he said that failure to attain peace in Afghanistan was the most immediate challenge facing the SCO today. As a country historically most affected by developments within Afghanistan, Pakistan is fully committed to supporting a stable, peaceful, sovereign, and united Afghanistan at peace with itself and with the neighbours.
“It is our firm view that a negotiated political settlement that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned is the only way to achieve this desired outcome,” he added. The NSA cautioned against spoilers, both within and outside Afghanistan, adding that unfortunately, not everyone in the region who professes to prefer peace in Afghanistan does so in reality. He added that Pakistan cannot allow Afghan soil to be used against it. Dr Moeed Yusuf said that Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including state terrorism against people under illegal occupation. He said Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism planned, supported and sponsored from across our borders which unfortunately remains a reality even today and has at its roots actors who may present themselves as advocates of global cooperation against terrorism, but in reality perpetuate it to create instability in our country and the region.
“Terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any race, religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group,” he said.
Dr Moeed Yusuf also informed his counterparts about Pakistan’s efforts in the area of climate change. He said that Pakistan was a low carbon emitting country but one of the most vulnerable to climate change.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan has made climate change his top priority and has emerged as one of the leaders of the Global South on environment,” he added. Earlier in the day, the NSA held an important bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Platonovich who had extended a special invitation to Dr Moeed Yusuf to hold a full scale bilateral NSAs dialogue. During the meeting, the two discussed issues of mutual interest and expressed satisfaction on the progress of Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations, while sharing serious concern about the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
