Afghan army chief calls for joint efforts with Pakistan to defeat non-state actors threats

Afghan Army Chief, Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi, told Pakistan army cadets on Saturday that Afghanistan and Pakistan face common threats by the non-state actors.

General Karimi was the first Afghan army chief to speak as chief guest at the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul in Abbotabad, some 120 km from Islamabad, where a group of six Afghan army cadets are also receiving training.

The Afghan Army Chief emphasized the need for close cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan to root out the menace of terrorism from the region.

"We see around us almost every day the world and our region especially Afghanistan and Pakistan today face the greatest threats and dangers from individuals and groups that are not affiliated directly with any state. That is precisely why these are called non-state actors," General Karimi said.

General Karimi's speech at the passing out parade of the army cadets was aired live by the Pakistani state television. He also gave medals to Pakistan's best cadets.

"This new enemy, which is the common enemy of all of us and of the system in our region does not recognize boundaries and is not bound by any religious and moral principles," General Karimi said.

"Their naked nefarious designs undermine states and grab power through terror and fear. Countering and ultimately defeating this menace and threats therefore require sincere close result-oriented cooperation and coordination between states especially between next door neighbors."

He expressed optimism over ongoing strategic dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan saying it will help achieve the objective of peace and stability in the region.

General Karimi also called for non-interference in each other's internal affairs and mutual respect and shared interests among sovereign states.

The Afghan army chief arrived in Pakistan on a two-day visit for talks on bilateral security issues. It is his second visit to Pakistan in nearly four months. He last visited Pakistan in December just days after the Taliban attacked an army-run school in Peshawar and killed 150 people, almost all children.

General Karimi met his Pakistani counterpart General Raheel Sharif on Friday and discussed border management and defence cooperation amid growing military-to-military contacts, the military said.

"During the meeting, matters related to peace and stability in the region specially in Afghanistan, Pak-Afghan border management and measures to further enhance defence and training cooperation between both the armies were discussed," an army statement said.

Gen Karimi said "our region has suffered from war of four decades but the objective of peace is very much attainable."

He said terrorists are the common enemies of Pakistan and Afghanistan and "we must ensure backing and support of our peoples in order to win the war against these non-state actors." Endi