UNITED NATIONS: Reaffirming its commitment to eliminating all terrorist networks, a senior Pakistani diplomat on Monday rejected the Afghan government’s allegation that the Taliban reorganise in Pakistan during the winter saying that their sanctuaries had in fact shifted to Afghanistan.
“The drivers of the recent upsurge in violence lie within Afghanistan and not outside,” Pakistan’s acting permanent representative to the UN Nabeel Munir told the Security Council during a debate on the situation in the strife-torn country.
He said despite Afghan security forces’ efforts to bravely stand their ground, the security situation continued to deteriorate. “Presence of a large number of terrorist and extremist groups and organizations in the ungoverned areas of Afghanistan present a continuing challenge to the long-term stability of Afghanistan and its neighbours,” he said.
“We reject the unsubstantiated assertion that the Taliban reorganise in Pakistan during the winter period,” Munir said. He said the sanctuaries of terrorists had in fact shifted to Afghanistan due to the successful counter-terrorism operation Zarb-e-Azb, the results of which were widely acknowledged by the international community.
He said robust border management was critical to counter cross-border movement adding that it was disingenuous to propose a regional mechanism when Kabul was unwilling even to work on this bilaterally.
Munir welcomed the resolve of Afghan leadership to address their differences in a spirit of cooperation but stated that continued political volatility and the security situation was a cause of concern.
Pakistan had expressed its support for Afghanistan in Brussels and would continue its regional cooperation, he added. He said the peace and reconciliation process had yet to produce results but that was not due to lack of efforts on Pakistan’s part. “The Afghan parties must realise that military efforts never bring peace. Faithful implementation and remaining trust among parties is fundamental.” The peace agreement with Hizb-i-Islami could serve as a model for other groups. “Despite the negative rhetoric Pakistan remains committed to facilitating transit of goods to landlocked Afghanistan through its territory,” Munir said and emphasized that peaceful resolution of outstanding disputes would enhance prospects of regional cooperation and connectivity.
In addition, he said Pakistan had hosted millions of refugees and was committed to their return with honour and dignity. The two countries enjoy age-old kinship and a shared destiny, he said, adding that Pakistan stood ready to support its Afghan brothers and sisters in their struggle for a better future that would bring peace and stability to the whole region.
Earlier, Afghan Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal claimed that winter in the Taliban calendar usually marked the official end of the so-called fighting season. He urged all Afghan Taliban groups and their foreign supporters to enter into genuine peace talks with the Afghan government.https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/173435-Terror-hotbeds-now-in-Afghanistan-after-Operation-Zarb-e-Azb
Comments are closed.