by Abdul Haleem
KABUL, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is a regional platform with the capacity to tackle terrorism, curb militancy and bolster the ongoing Afghan peace process towards achieving national reconciliation and lasting peace, political experts here said.
"Asian nations are facing a variety of challenges and terrorism has topped all the challenges. Continued militancy in Afghanistan and the presence of terrorist groups in the militancy-battered country continues to pose a serious threat to the region," political expert Hamidullah Arefi told Xinhua on Monday.
Describing terrorism as one of the foremost sources of instability in the region, the analyst warned that lasting peace will not return to the region unless and until the roots of terrorist groups and their financial resources are choked off.
Arefi hailed Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the recently concluded CICA summit in Dushanbe, during which he urged Asian countries and their partners to join hands in opening up new prospects for Asian security and development under new circumstances.
The expert suggested that the concept of promoting mutual trust, cooperation and sustainable security and development should be achieved through cooperation among nations to eliminate terrorism, extremism and separatism.
Describing the ongoing insurgency in Afghanistan as a "trouble spot" that can destabilize the whole region if it goes unchecked, the Afghan political observer opined that China can play an indispensable role in supporting the Afghan peace process and help find a negotiated solution to Afghanistan's prolonged conflict.
Afghan observer and veteran journalist Dad Mohammad Anabi told Xinhua, "China, as a country that has never interfered in the internal affairs of its neighbors, can play a positive role in easing tensions among Asian nations and assisting the poor countries to move towards development."
The concept of sustainable security, inclusiveness and mutual trust and cooperation among Asian countries, if executed, would help remove misunderstanding among countries in the region, he added.
