Samarkand Declaration Calls for Inclusive Governance System in Afghanistan

During the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan's Neighbouring states, the participants emphasised on the building of an inclusive government in Afghanistan. The Samarkand declaration noted that the terrorism-related security situation in Afghanistan was still severe.

The Samarkand Declaration has been released after the foreign ministers and senior officials of China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan met on April 13 in Uzbekistan.

They reaffirmed the commitment to the development of Afghanistan as a peaceful, united, sovereign, and independent state, free from the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking.

The countries said that all terrorist groups, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaeda, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundallah, Jaish al-Adl, Jamaat Ansarullah, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and other terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security.

However, they also mentioned that all neighbours would work together for a counter-terrorism strategy.

The issue of drug menace had also been discussed and called for support for the development of drug crop substitution programs, as well as for combating drug production and trafficking.

The foreign ministers of the participant countries also stressed on the need for the international community to maintain dialogue and communication with Afghanistan and called for further measures to improve the living conditions of the people.

While expressing concern about the humanitarian situation and the poor economic situation in the country, the countries said that they would provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and support the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.

They also stressed on the importance of cooperation on major international energy, transport, communication, infrastructure, and other projects implemented by neighbouring countries for socio-economic development of Afghanistan.