The first-ever Dialogue between Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production of Pakistan and Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Committee of Meshrano Jirga of Afghan Parliament took place in Kabul, Afghanistan on September 10-11, 2013.

The two-day Dialogue focused on issues including Security and the Defence cooperation between the two countries; existing and emerging challenges in Pak-Afghan Relations; Cross-Border Terrorism, Narcotics Smuggling; Border Management, Challenges of 2014 NATO Withdrawal and Afghanistan Peace Process and Institutionalising Pak Afghanistan Defence Parliamentary Dialogue.

Parliamentarians from both sides agreed to enhance the Defence Cooperation between the two countries while developing bilateral cooperation between the Armed Forces and Security Agencies of Pakistan and Afghanistan. They agreed that, in the best interest of both countries� people, the two brother nations should move forward with a joint approach on important national and regional issues, and should have a joint strategy on security issues affecting the both countries. It was stressed that by connecting with each other and, with the region and outside world, full economic potential of this area and the people can be actualized.

MPs at the Defence Committees� Dialogue agreed that if Pakistan and Afghanistan join hands together the two armed forces can manage their respective internal security problems in a more reasonable and effective way. They stressed that the Security Establishments of Pakistan and Afghanistan should identify and isolate the common threat. It was stressed that there is a need to keep all the channels of communication open between the two countries.

MPs agreed that after withdrawal of US and ISAF Forces from Afghanistan in 2014, there may be possibility of a sense of a vacuum, which can only be filled if the Civil Society in Afghanistan and Pakistan given a chance to be strengthen while strengthening State and Democracy in both Countries. It was stressed that both countries should look for ways and means to establish better communication between the younger generations of the two countries in all fields. It was also agreed that both countries should also cooperate with other to ensure protection of Women and Human Rights in their respective Countries.

In order to institutionalize the Dialogues between the Defence Committees of the two countries, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed at the Dialogue.

Co-chaired by Senator Sayed Farrukh Shah Jenab, Secretary of the Meshrano Jirga and Senator Haji Mohammed Daud Asas, Acting Chairman, Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission of Meshrano Jirga, Members of the Afghan Parliament who joined the Dialogue included Senator Gulali Akbari, Secretary, Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission of Meshrano Jirga, Senator Abdul Ahad Sultanzoy, Member, Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission, Senator Saliha Mehrzad, Member, Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission and Senator H. Mohammed Amin Safi, Member, Defence, Internal Security and Local Administration Commission, Meshrano Jirga. There was also a large number of participation from the International Affairs Commission of Meshrano Jirga. The notable speakers from the International Commission Affairs were Senator Arif Ullah Pashtoon, Chairman, Member, International Affairs Commission, Senator Nisar Ahmed Haress, Member, International Affairs Commission, Meshrano Jirga, Senator Dr. Hazrat Shah Nooristani, Member, International Affairs Commission, Senator Mohammadin Humdard, Member, International Affairs Commission, Senator Hafiz Abdul Qayyum, Member, International Affairs Commission and Senator Usman Rehmani, Member, International Affairs Commission. Other participants included Senator Maulwaee Abdul Wahab Erfan, Chairman National Economic Commission, Meshrano Jirga, Senator Mohammad Alam Ezdeyar, First Deputy Chairman of the Meshrano Jirga, Senator Amin Ahmadi, and Member Meshrano Jirga Senator Mola Mohammed Faizi, Member Meshrano Jirga. The parliamentary staff of Meshrano jirga participated in the two day dialogue too. Sayed Hafizullah Hashmi, Secretary General, Meshrano Jirga, Professor Shah Sultan Akifi, Deputy Secretary General, Meshrano Jirga , Mr. Mohammed Kazim Malwan, Advisor, Legislative Affairs, Meshrano Jirga and Mr. Fazal Rabi, Journalist, Meshrano Jirga.

The Pakistan Delegation chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production of Pakistan. MPs from Pakistan who participated in the Dialogue included Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former Prime Minister of Pakistan and member Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production, Senator Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Pakistan, Senator Sehar Kamran, Member, Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production. Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Convener, Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Senate of Pakistan & Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, Senator Begum Najma Hameed, Member Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, Senator Dr. Muhammad Jehangir Bader, Member, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Senator Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail, Member, Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, MNA; Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology and former member of the Senate Defence Committee.

Download PILDAT Publications prepared as a backgrounder for the Dialogue:

• Background Paper: Whither Pak-Afghan Defence Cooperation
  [English PDF]   [Pashto PDF]   [Dari PDF]

• Background Paper: Pakistan and Afghanistan - Then What Need to Do?
  [English PDF]    [Pashto PDF]   [Dari PDF]   [Urdu PDF]

• Progress Report: Implementation Status on Recommendations From The Pakistan-Afghanistan Parliamentarians
  [English PDF]   [Pashto PDF]  [Dari PDF]

• Report: Pace and Progress of Pakistan-Afghanistan Official Dialogue, December 2012 - September 2013
  [English PDF]   [Pashto PDF]   [Dari PDF]