Media

OTTAWA, September 30, 2011  —  A high-level group of retired Indian and Pakistani officials has developed a proposal for an international process to address the regional aspects of the situation in Afghanistan.

Meeting in Dubai under the chairmanship of University of Ottawa professor Peter Jones, the group has agreed to a statement that calls for the speedy appointment of a Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General. The Special Representative is to consult interested states and develop a framework for a regional consultative mechanism. The mechanism would provide, for the first time, a place where all countries neighbouring Afghanistan, and other concerned states, could design a cooperative approach “to help ensure non-interference in Afghan affairs by external parties and also the implementation of a commitment by Afghanistan that its territory will not be used by any group to threaten or attack any other state.”

The group expressed the hope that the process could begin as soon as possible. It also noted that the upcoming Bonn conference on the future of Afghanistan would be an excellent place for a newly appointed Special Representative to begin the consultations “on such matters as the structure of such a mechanism, the obligations of the participants and the creation of a process whereby the implementation of these obligations could be monitored and confidence thereby built.”

Finally, the high-level group discussed the situation in Afghanistan as it impacts on India-Pakistan relations and agreed on seven proposals intended to help allay mistrust and promote dialogue on Afghanistan between Islamabad and Delhi.