Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan announce counter-terrorism alliance

Islamabad, Aug. 4 (ANI): A new quadrilateral counter-terrorism alliance mechanism has reportedly been unveiled by Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan in the Chinese city of Urumqi. The Dawn quoted a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), as saying that top defence commanders of the four-nations had made the announcement of the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism (QCCM) on counter-terrorism after an inaugural leadership meeting. "The inaugural high-level meeting on Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in counterterrorism by Afghanistan-China-Pakistan-Tajikistan armed forces/militaries was held in Urumqi, Xingjian Uygur autonomous region, China, on 3rd August 2016," ISPR said in its statement. The meeting was attended by Qadam Shah Shahim, Chief of General Staff Afghan National Army; General Fang Fenghui, Chief of Joint Staff Department of Central Military Commission; General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Army; and Major General E. A. Cobidrzoda, First Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of General Staff of the Tajikistan armed forces. The Dawn further reported that the QCCM was a Chinese initiative, but General Sharif actively contributed to its establishment. It quoted the ISPR, as saying that General Sharif visited Tajikistan and Afghanistan in March for this purpose. "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 communique issued at the end of the meeting said. Under this arrangement, the four countries would cooperate in counter-terrorism situation evaluation, clue verification, intelligence sharing, counterterrorism capacity building, counterterrorism joint training exercises and personnel training. The QCCM, it was agreed, would work through consensus. The new mechanism clarified that it was not targeted against any state or international organisation. (ANI)