AISS researcher and representative, Mr. Abdul Kabir Salehi participated in the China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Dialogue which was hosted and organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD) from 12th to 21st December in Beijing, the Capital of China. The event included several bilateral and trilateral interactions and meetings between the think-tanks, security analysts, former diplomats, academics, researchers and writers of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan.

A day-long seminar on the “Security of Afghanistan and the Region after the 2014 Withdrawal 2014 was also organized by CPAPD as part of this event and the strategic concepts of the Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road in the 21st century were thoroughly discussed by the seminar participants. Mr. Salehi, the AISS representative spoke about principles and priorities of economic cooperation between Afghanistan, China and Pakistan. He stated that the as a turning point in the trilateral relations between China, Pakistan and Afghanistan, we all should start re-thinking and re-defining our national interests in light of our regional interests, because national interests are no longer realized unless our regional interests are achieved. He further stated that the era of isolated national interests has ended long ago and any development strategy at national level should support the overall regional integration approach. Otherwise, the efforts and strategies will definitely prove unsuccessful.

Mr. Salehi further emphasized in his key-note speech that Afghanistan, China and Pakistan have one enemy in common which is Islamic insurgency. In China the insurgency efforts are undertaken by Uighur militants who are upholding flag of separatism. At the same time insurgency warfare in Afghanistan and Pakistan is practiced by Taliban. Referring to the fact that Taliban is currently exploring connections with the Islamic State (IS) and Uighur militants are seeking opportunities of having stronger links with both, Mr. Salehi reiterated that If stronger cross-border and cross-regional links are established between the IS, the Taliban and the Uighur militants, the overall regional security will be negatively affected and Afghanistan will no longer be the only country suffering from insurgency.

Concluding his key-note speech, the AISS representative mentioned a number of priority areas for durable economic cooperation between Afghanistan, China and Pakistan emphasizing that economic cooperation is key to overcoming the multifaceted regional challenges including the security challenges.