BEIJING: China highly appreciates Army Chief General Raheel Sharif’s strong resolve and commitment towards counter-terrorism, ensuring peace and development in the region, official sources said here on Saturday.
Referring to formation of four-country’ group on counter-terrorism during General Raheel’s recent visit to Urumqi in Xinjiang region and his meeting with General Fang Fenghui, the sources said this is a big development towards peace. It reflected strong Will on the part of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General Raheel creaking down on terrorists with all possible means and through joint collaboration.
Pakistan and three other countries of the region have formally announced a four-nation alliance to fight terrorism. Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan have formally agreed on a counter-terrorism mechanism.
The Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) in counter-terrorism, came as top military generals from the member nations met in the Chinese city of Urumqi early this week.
Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, Chief of General Staff of Afghan National Army Qadam Shah Shahim, Chief of Joint Staff Department of Central Military Commission (CMC) of China General Fang Fenghui, and First Deputy Defence Minister of Tajikistan Major General E. A. Cobidrzoda attended the meeting.
The regional counterterrorism forum said to be a Chinese initiative, but Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif actively contributed to its establishment. He visited Tajikistan and Afghanistan in March for this purpose. His visit to Kabul on that occasion coincided with that of China’s Gen Fang, who was also there for talks on the alliance.
“The participants unanimously agreed that terrorism and extremism are serious threat to regional stability and … reiterated to cooperate for tackling these forces for peace and stability of all member countries,” a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said
