Pakistan stresses Afghanistan on border security to defeat 'common enemy': COAS

LONDON: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has that peace in Afghanistan is a shared interest and Pakis­tan is ready to work closely with the neighbouring country.

During his meeting with senior British and US political and military officials in London, the army chief had separate meetings with UK Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Owen Jenkins and US Resolute Support Mission Commander General John Nicholson.

Gen Bajwa, who is on official visit to the United Kingdom, visited the British Ministry of Defence London.

Matters of mutual interest, including regional geopolitical environment with particular reference to Afghanistan, came under discussion.

The army chief said Pakistan is a peace-loving country and will continue to play its positive role in bringing enduring stability to the region.

He emphasised that peace in Afghanistan was a shared interest, adding that Pakistan would continue its positive role and was ready to work closely with Afghanistan.

The army chief said that Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral border security mechanism was critically important and both countries needed to formulate this on priority.

He shared with his interlocutors various border control and management measures that Pakistan had undertaken and stressed the need for similar measures on the other side of the border to defeat common enemy.

The COAS highlighted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor should be viewed as an economic manoeuvre since it aims at fostering inclusive development in the best interest of the region and beyond.

The UK leadership and RSM Commander appreciated positive role played by Pakistan towards peace and stability in Afghanistan.