Pakistan Co-sponsored Resolution “Strengthening Connectivity between Central and South Asia”

Ambassador Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, for Resolution entitled: “Strengthening Connectivity between Central and South Asia” delivered statement in national capacity at the General Assembly.

Ambassador Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan expressed his gratitude to H.E. Abdulaziz Kamilov, former Foreign Minister and presently the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for foreign policy on introducing the resolution.

Pakistan is grateful to the government of Uzbekistan for proposing this important resolution on “Strengthening Connectivity between Central and South Asia” contained in document A/76/L.68: Ambassador Munir Akram,

We welcome its introduction today by H.E. Abdulaziz Kamilov, former Foreign Minister and presently the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for foreign policy: Ambassador Munir Akram

Pakistan is honoured to co-sponsor this timely resolution: Ambassador Munir Akram,

Regional connectivity — in road, rail, energy, trade, ports and shipping — is a vital accelerator for faster economic production, growth and prosperity. Regional connectivity and cooperation can also contribute to building and sustaining peace, stability and security: Ambassador Munir Akram,

The ancient Silk Route that connected the East and West across the Eurasian heartland, was a prime historical example of the benefits of regional connectivity. It unleashed an era of prosperity in Central Asia. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), are timely initiatives to revive the prospects of prosperity through regional connectivity and cooperation: Ambassador Munir Akram,

The regions of Central and South Asia, both adjacent to Pakistan, are among the world’s least economically integrated area. Thus, unlocking the potential of their integration can provide a significant impetus to economic growth, productivity and prosperity in both regions and beyond: Ambassador Munir Akram,

Relations between the peoples of Central and South Asia are rooted in a shared historical and cultural heritage. This is the foundation on which the two regions can build connectivity and cooperation in trade, investment, transport, energy, tourism and other sectors: Ambassador Munir Akram,

For the landlocked Central Asian states, Pakistan can serve as a gateway not only to South Asia but to global markets. We have traditionally close cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, which has further deepened in recent years. Pakistan and Central Asian states have concluded several multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, including the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Trade agreement: Ambassador Munir Akram,

Pakistan is working on several specific connectivity projects:

One, to enhance energy connectivity through CASA-1000, which would supply surplus electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan and Pakistan,;

Two, to enhance transport connectivity through the Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project, which will provide Central Asian states access to deep sea ports in Gwadar and Karachi;

Three, gas connectivity through the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline.

There is also an emerging consensus to extend the CPEC to Afghanistan: Ambassador Munir Akram,

For the success of connectivity and integration between Central and South Asia, it is vital to ensure durable peace and security in Afghanistan. Today, after 40 years of conflict, there is an opportunity to bring peace and development to Afghanistan. To this end, a sustained engagement is essential with the de facto Afghan government, especially the forum of its six neighbours plus Russia: Ambassador Munir Akram,

The greatest challenge to full connectivity are the tensions between Pakistan and India over Jammu and Kashmir. This festering dispute must be resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir: Ambassador Munir Akram

The UN General Assembly supports President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s initiative CASA Connectivity

Text of Resolution

Strengthening connectivity of countries in South and Central Asia, particularly Landlocked and Least Developed Countries, is a project to link with, sub regional and regional transport and trade networks in cooperation with UN ESCAP.

The project seeks to contribute to the capacities of the stakeholders in the countries of South and Central Asia, especially in the landlocked and least developed countries to strengthen their links with the sub regional and regional transport and trade networks.To achieve this objective, the project is expected to explore the possibilities of (i) linking these countries to the existing and proposed sub regional road and railway networks along the Asian Highway (AH) and Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) routes and Europe-Asia Transport Linkages (EATL) corridors based on minimal investments; (ii) facilitating the movement of goods along these corridors in a mutually beneficial manner, especially for the benefit of the landlocked and least developed countries (LLDCs and LDCs) in these sub regions; and (iii) facilitating trade and investment through the promotion of paperless trade and the creation of economic corridors at the border crossings that could be of particular interest to LLDCs and countries emerging from conflict, such as Afghanistan. Those countries are seeking to rebuild their economies through improved connectivity with the region’s emerging markets. Enhanced connectivity that could provide economic gains and help in restoring peace and stability.