ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, said on Tuesday that India’s primary objectives in Afghanistan are driven solely by the goal of destabilising Pakistan.
Ambassador Iftikhar stated India would never be allowed to endanger Pakistan’s national security. He called on Kabul to take concrete and verifiable measures against terrorist groups operating from within Afghanistan.
Addressing the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan, he said: “Pakistan’s demand from Taliban is simple and clear: verifiable and irreversible action against terrorists. Regrettably, this demand remains unmet.
“The window for correcting the course is narrowing, but it is still open. We hope Taliban realise this sincerely and cooperate with international community for long-term peace and development of Afghanistan and, above all, in the best interests of Afghan people,” Ambassador Iftikhar added.
He further said it was regrettable Taliban had reverted to their previous practice of providing safe havens to terrorist groups. They had chosen a dangerous path of complicity, allegedly supported by an external actor — described as a historic spoiler and instigator of chaos — which had moved swiftly to wage a proxy war against Pakistan.
“Let me make it clear: Pakistan will defend itself against anyone who attempts to harm our sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security,” he said.
He noted terrorism has been a longstanding problem in Afghanistan, affecting not only Afghanistan itself but also neighbouring countries and the wider region. Afghanistan, he said, has historically served as a safe haven for terrorist groups, including those allegedly used as proxies by Pakistan’s adversaries to target Pakistan and other countries.
Pakistan had expected Taliban to take concrete and verifiable action against terrorist organisations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIL-K), East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and their affiliates operating freely on Afghan soil.
However, he said, Taliban had failed to act, showing disregard for legitimate security concerns of Pakistan and other countries.
He added independent assessments and reports by Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team clearly highlighted terrorism challenge in Afghanistan, as well as sharp increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
These developments, he said, underscored fragile security situation and threats posed to international peace and
security.
Pakistan, he said, looks forward to the next phase of UN-led Doha Process and implementation of its “Mosaic” approach action plan to comprehensively address Afghanistan’s multiple challenges through clearly defined objectives and a realistic roadmap towards normalisation.
He emphasised Pakistan and Afghanistan are linked by geography, centuries-old civilisational connections and strong bonds of faith, culture and ethnicity.
“No country has suffered more from consequences of conflict and instability in Afghanistan than Pakistan,” he said. We understand the situation well, and we also know no country stands to benefit more from peace, prosperity and stability in Afghanistan than Pakistan, he added.
Exercising his right of reply after Indian representative criticised Pakistan’s Afghanistan policy, Ambassador Iftikhar said it was evident to Pakistan India’s objectives in Afghanistan — despite being presented as development or humanitarian assistance — were fundamentally aimed at destabilising Pakistan, including through use of terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.
“And that includes TTP, which so many of my colleagues around the table condemned, and BLA, which acts as a proxy of India to perpetrate terrorism inside Pakistan,” he said
“I thank him because I committed myself from mentioning this, but I thank him for recalling to everyone in the Council and those who were listening BLA — its other name is Fitna al Hindustan, yes, that’s what it is,” he said. It is an organisation that is supported and financed by India to destabilise and target Pakistan, the ambassador said.
The ambassador reminded the council members Indian representative had not once condemned TTP or BLA who have been carrying out attacks targeting innocent Pakistanis.
“We are not surprised at all. We know very well India’s hostile policies and complicity is further validated by the remarks of its representative today,” he said. This behaviour should be a cause of concern for Security Council and international community, he asserted.
