Zardari calls for greater regional cooperation against extremism, terrorism

President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday called for deeper regional cooperation against extremism and terrorism and vowed that Pakistan would continue to play its key role for greater peace and stability. Addressing the 10th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation here at the Capital of Uzbekistan, President Zardari said the regional countries must also join hands to address the root causes that lead to acts of violence and terrorism. He said terrorism stemmed from abject poverty and it was vital that it is addressed by creating economic activity and employment generation so that the people on the fringes of extremism are lured to productive tasks. President Zardari pointed out that narco-money was being used to fund terrorist activities and called for greater collaboration to stem it. The President said Pakistan was confronting terrorism and extremism with a resolve to rid its soil and for greater peace and stability. He called for increased collaboration between Pakistan and the SCO's Business Council and inter-bank consortium to boost trade and commercial ties. He said it would bring in more development and progress besides greater economic stability. The President said," Pakistan, owing to its strategic position, provides shortest and fastest trade corridors to link the Central Asian Republics to the rest of the world". President Zardari said increased trade and commercial activities in the region could bring about a positive change in the lives of its people. He also mentioned other challenges that the country was facing and said Pakistan can address the grave energy crisis by increasing cooperation in the field of energy with the SCO members. President Zardari also extended full support to Afghanistan to help it fight extremism and in its reconstruction efforts. He said his country believes that a strong and stable Afghanistan was in the best interest of the entire region. He said the law and order situation in Afghanistan was having a negative impact on the entire region and the two countries would work together towards a better future. He said Pakistan would continue to assist the peace efforts in Afghanistan. The President also extended support to the SCO's stance towards Afghanistan and Kyrgystan. President Asif Ali Zardari also presented a powerful case for inclusion of Pakistan into the SCO fold and said Pakistan was the gateway to the landlocked Central Asian Republics with historical and cultural links that span centuries. He said Pakistan was a natural member to the SCO and it would further boost the people to people contacts, bring more stability and enhance trade and economic ties in the region. The summit was attended by heads of state from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the delegate from Kyrgyzstan, and leaders and delegates from SCO observer nations Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran. Earlier the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit approved a series of documents, including the Tashkent Declaration, the SCO Rules of Procedure, and the regulation on procedure for future membership expansion. The SCO members agreed in the Tashkent Declaration to further enhance cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, illegal drug trade and organized transnational crime. Uzbek President Islam Karimov in his opening speech stressed the need for strengthening political and economic cooperation and stepping up anti-terrorism efforts to secure peace and stability among the SCO countries. Chinese President Hu Jintao in his address called for strengthening cooperation among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) He urged new cooperation models and proposed ways to identify non-resource sectors as a new priority for economic cooperation. He also made a six-point proposal including strengthening mutual trust, stepping up counter-terrorism efforts, improving the SCO institutional building and decision-making mechanism, and promoting its transparency and inclusiveness. Chinese President Hu Jintao said the world has become multipolar and underlined the need for increase in multilateral trade and interconnectivity among SCO countries. He said China would provide US 10 billion for undertaking of projects in SCO countries. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for setting up a special fund to complete projects in member countries of SCO. He pledged to take forward the spirit of SCO and specially mentioned the need for peace, progress and stability in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. He said a monitoring team of SCO will oversee referendum in Kyrgyzstan on June 27. India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said his country would continue to play a positive role in Afghanistan and Central Asian States. He stressed for increase in trade among countries in the region. He said terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking were difficult challenges and India would support SCO countries to tackle these issues in an effective manner. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran for its peaceful nuclear programme but on the other hand nothing was done against the country who fired upon and killed people on board the ship carrying humanitarian goods for Gaza which was facing blockade. He said Iran would not compromise on its nuclear programme as it was for peaceful purposes.He said politics was being done in the name of action against terrorist organizations and activities. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said terrorism and extremism were curses for Afghanistan and people of his country were facing the menace with bravery and courage. Now Afghans are thinking that the business of terrorism should end from their country, he remarked. Karzai thanked the SCO countries for their support for promoting peace, progress and stability in Afghanistan. He said the Asian countries protected themselves from the world recession and called for an SCO Youth Council to realize potential of the future generations. Two SCO also inked two agreements - one between the SCO governments to enhance cooperation in the field of agriculture, and the second for cooperation in combating crime. The theme of the summit was "to strengthen unity and cooperation, maintain stability and pursue common development in the region." The leaders and participants exchanged views on the world and regional situation, and coordinated strategies for combating terrorism, separatism and extremism.