||
Integrating Afghanistan into economic ties will help prevent terrorist threats
11.10.2023|20:57|
2839
Image source: orient.tm
Integrating Afghanistan into international regional economic relations will help prevent the threat of the spread of terrorism and violent crime. This position of Turkmenistan regarding the improvement of the situation in Afghanistan was expressed by the Turkmen delegation participating in the expert conference within the framework of the Early Warning Network in the field of counter-terrorism for Central Asia.
The meeting, which takes place from October 9 to 13 in Tbilisi, Georgia, aims to strengthen regional counter-terrorism mechanisms, build capacity and develop effective counter-terrorism strategies and measures to adequately respond to emerging security challenges and threats emanating from Afghanistan.
Over the past decades, counter-terrorism issues have become a matter of widespread concern and priority attention from the international community. Although progress has been made in countering this threat and understanding its underlying causes, terrorism remains the greatest challenge facing the international community.
It was noted that terrorist movements are taking on qualitatively new forms in the context of technological transformation, the development of mass media and methods of transmitting information against the backdrop of rapidly progressing IT technologies, which requires particularly effective countermeasures.
In the speech of the Turkmen side, it was noted that Turkmenistan is a neutral state, does not participate in military blocs, alliances, and associations. The military doctrine of the country is purely defensive in nature. And Turkmenistan calls on all international conflicts to be resolved with the help of political and diplomatic tools.
However, Turkmenistan is taking all necessary measures and actions at the national and international levels to combat threats to peace and security. Including against terrorist and radicalist manifestations.
At the same time, it was emphasized that the activities of national counter-terrorism coordinators should be regularly coordinated at face-to-face and online meetings to discuss pressing specific issues. Because the situation in the world is constantly changing, and we must adapt to these changes.
“It is well known that the best means of resisting evil is its prevention. And in other words, obtaining proactive information, assisting partner states in strengthening border security, since in many places the threat to sovereignty comes from groups, movements that can move around countries, illegally transporting weapons, money, drugs, people, etc. “, Bekdurdy Amansaryev, a researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies of the IIR of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan said, developing the topic.
Early reporting of such crimes will help partners take appropriate measures to protect themselves from danger. All Central Asian countries provide all possible assistance to Afghanistan. However, despite this, the economic situation in the country remains difficult.
One of the most pressing problems in Afghanistan remains drug trafficking and poppy cultivation. This was discussed a lot at the Tbilisi conference, where this problem was considered in various aspects.
It is known that good soil for the development of terrorism is a weak economy, low social security of the people, unemployment, etc. Therefore, the leadership of Turkmenistan believes that the integration of Afghanistan into international and regional economic relations is necessary. And it not only counts, but also takes concrete steps.
In recent years, Turkmenistan has initiated a number of large infrastructure projects with Afghan participation in this direction. These include: the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India gas pipeline, the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan fiber-optic communication line, railways from Turkmenistan in the Afghan direction, and the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan high-voltage power line.
Through the implementation of these and other projects initiated by Turkmenistan, Afghanistan will receive a strategic perspective for economic and social development and will be able to realize its geographical advantages. And this can distract part of the population from illegal methods of earning money.
In addition, Turkmen builders erected a number of objects in Afghanistan - a mosque, a modern maternity hospital, a store, a power plant, which is so necessary for the country’s economy, industrial and production facilities.
Turkmenistan regularly provides humanitarian assistance to neighboring Afghanistan - food, medical and pharmaceutical products, and also provides medical and advisory assistance from Turkmen doctors to the Afghan side. Quotas are also provided for Afghan youth to enter Turkmen universities, including for the training of railway workers.
The Turkmen speaker especially highlighted the problem of water shortage in Central Asia, which has become acute and irreversible. And, according to experts, the situation will only get worse.
The construction of a canal in Afghanistan to draw water from the Amu Darya River is of great concern to the heads of state of Central Asia. Its commissioning can radically change the water regime and balance in Central Asia, experts say.
According to their forecasts, by 2040 in some regions of Central Asia, the load on water resources will triple. And now the countries of the region lose up to $2 billion annually due to scarcity and inefficient use of water resources.
In this context, the initiative expressed from the UN rostrum by the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to create a Regional Center for Technologies related to climate change in Central Asia, as well as the proposal to accelerate the adoption of documents on the rational use of water resources by the states of the region, deserves attention and support.
“A lot of work needs to be done here, encouraging the Afghan side and helping it to make maximum use of modern water-saving technologies. It is necessary to make it clear that local interests must give way to an understanding of truly global goals and priorities, the development of a unified strategy for action on water for the long term,” Bekdurdy Amansaryev said, drawing the attention of the conference participants to the fact that one of the effective steps in this direction could become the establishment of a specialized UN structure on water issues for Central Asia.
In addition, the speaker called for active propaganda among Afghans on the use of water-saving technologies and for interaction between breeders of the countries of the region to create, on a scientific basis, new varieties of crops that can grow and bear fruit in conditions of water deficit, which will serve as another preventive measure.
“A peaceful, stable, developing Afghanistan is one of the guarantees of the security of our borders and our citizens. In this context, Turkmenistan welcomes and supports international mechanisms for the political settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, the efforts of Central Asian and other countries in the Afghan direction,” he concluded.
The expert forum in Tbilisi was convened by the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) under the auspices of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism within the framework of the Early Warning Network in Central Asia.
The conference is attended by officials at the level of heads of departments and national ministries and departments working in the field of countering terrorism, as well as representatives of national institutes for strategic studies.
The solid composition of the participants led to highly competent discussions that take place in a lively manner, and the seriousness of the topics discussed did not prevent no less lively informal communication, the establishment of human and friendly connections between the participants, which was facilitated by national souvenirs presented as gifts to colleagues by the Turkmen delegation. And by the end of the first day of the forum, its organizers and delegates from Central Asian countries were happy to try on Turkmen takhyas.
ORIENT news
