The new Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral engagement framework – the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) – became operational yesterday, with both sides hoping that its implementation would contribute to promoting peace in the region.
“Both sides agreed that effective and full implementation of the APAPPS would contribute towards the common objectives of eliminating terrorism and achieving peace, stability, prosperity and development of the people of the two countries,” a statement jointly issued by the foreign ministries of Pakistan and Afghanistan said.
Earlier, the Foreign Office hosted a meeting of the APAPPS.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua led the Pakistani side at the meeting, whereas Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai headed the Afghan delegation.
It was the fourth meeting of the APAPPS.
The two sides had spent the earlier three rounds negotiating the contours of the framework, but an agreement remained elusive till Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited Kabul last month and met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
The two leaders had on that occasion agreed on the new framework and tasked their foreign ministers and national security advisers with concluding the agreement.
The seven principles agreed between Pakistan and Afghanistan for the new framework for engagement are:
n Commitments that Pakistan would support the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation; 
n The two countries would undertake effective actions against fugitives and the irreconcilable elements posing security threats to either of the two countries; 
n Both countries would deny use of their respective territory by any country, network, group or individuals for anti-state activities against either country; 
n They would put in place a joint supervision, co-ordination and confirmation mechanism through liaison officers for realisation of the agreed actions; 
n Territorial and aerial violations of each other’s territory would be avoided; 
n There would be no public blame game and instead the APAPPS co-operation mechanisms would be utilised to respond to mutual issues of contention and concerns; and 
n Working groups and necessary co-operation mechanism would be set up as per the APAPPS.
Both sides have operationalised six working groups, including the ones on security and intelligence co-operation.
The APAPPS is a Pakistani initiative for co-operation in the areas of counter-terrorism and reduction of violence, peace and reconciliation, refugees’ repatriation and joint economic development.
The plan has the backing of both China and the US.
“The APAPPS provides a framework to strengthen mutual trust and deepen interaction in all spheres of bilateral engagements. It is also a mechanism for finding solutions to bilateral areas of concern,” the joint statement issued by Islamabad and Kabul said.