BEIJING, Nov 6: Asia's only security forum has agreed to strengthen cooperation against threats such as terrorism, cross-border crime, drugs and small arms-trafficking, state media said on Saturday.
Twenty-four members of the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), represented by about 100 military officials, made the pledge during the grouping's first three-day conference on security policy here, Xinhua news agency said.
"The participants said the armed forces of related countries should play active and constructive role in preventing and fighting terrorism by strengthening coordination and cooperation in line with international laws," the report said.
ARF links the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with 13 other Asia-Pacific states and the European Union.
Air Vice-Marshal Maqbool Shah, who led the Pakistani delegation, briefed the participants about the initiatives taken by the country to promote peace and security in the region.
He stressed the need of taking a holistic view of the global structures for peace, security and development.
Mr Shah said that genuine freedom struggle against repressive and discriminatory policies of certain regimes should not be labelled as terrorist movements.
Some countries were taking advantage of the world attention on terrorism and trying to bring freedom struggle in the ambit of terrorism, he added.
He said Pakistan respected sovereignty of every state and was determined not to allow any terrorist to operate from its soil. The country was affected by the menace more than any other state, he added.
The air vice-marshal said that a proactive approach to remove the root causes of terrorism should be adopted, because terrorists have no religious agenda and it was imperative to evolve a clear definition of terrorism.
He informed the participants of the steps taken by Pakistan to control arms-smuggling and drug-related crimes.
He suggested a six-point strategy to counter non-traditional threats, including terrorism.
The six points were: restore the supremacy of the United Nations system; refurbish the need for conflict resolution through dialogue; boost the process of preventive diplomacy; re-invigorate the fight against terrorism by eliminating its root causes; renew the need to fight against poverty; and review the international trade system to ensure simultaneous social and economic development.
Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan, who also attended the conference, told APP that Pakistan assured the member countries of its all out support in addressing the non-traditional security issues like war on terror, trans-national crime, arms-smuggling, drug-trafficking, illegal immigration and money laundering.
Mr Khan held a meeting with United Nations Director-General Chen Xu and discussed Pakistan's proposals regarding UN's reforms.
He also held a meeting with the spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign office, Zhang Qiyue, and briefed her about government's media policy.-Agencies