Addressing the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday during a briefing on “Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts”, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad maintained “We hope the Council will act swiftly to designate BLA under the 1267 sanctions regime, acceding to the listing request that is currently under consideration.”
Pakistan’s request followed a formal UN statement, issued a day earlier, where the Security Council condemned the series of attacks that occurred last weekend, describing them as “heinous and cowardly acts of terrorism”.
The UNSC expressed its “deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the governor and people of Pakistan,” and called for a swift recovery for the injured.
The council’s statement reaffirmed that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security”.
UNSC members emphasised the necessity of holding “perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”
The body further urged all UN member states to cooperate actively with the Pakistani government in accordance with international law.
In his remarks on Wednesday, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad thanked UNSC members for their statement condemning the recent attacks in Balochistan, and expressed appreciation for what he described as an international “outpouring of support and solidarity with Pakistan.”
Following is the text of Ambassador Asim Ahmad’s statement in the UNSC:
“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. As a frontline state in the global counter-terrorism efforts we have sacrificed blood and treasure – with more than 90,000 casualties and staggering economic losses over the years.
Let me recall that the Al-Qaida “core” was largely decimated in Afghanistan due to Pakistan’s instrumental efforts. Pakistan has also been playing a lead role in successfully combating ISIL-K in our region.
Over the last few years, particularly after the Taliban takeover in Kabul, externally sponsored and foreign-funded proxy terrorist groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij TTP and Fitna al-Hindustan BLA and its Majeed Brigade have got a new lease of life.
Operating with virtual impunity from Afghan soil and with the active support of our eastern neighbour, these groups are responsible for heinous terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
Just this weekend, BLA claimed responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks across multiple locations in Balochistan Province of Pakistan that resulted in the martyrdom of 48 innocent civilians, including five women and three children.
So far, 197 BLA terrorists were neutralised during the effective riposte by our valiant security forces.
We hope the Council will act swiftly to designate BLA under the 1267 sanctions regime acceding to the listing request that is currently under consideration and we thank the Security Council members for the swift Press Statement condemning these terrorist acts, and all our friends and well-wishers across the globe for the outpouring of support and solidarity with Pakistan.
We remain resolute in eliminating this externally sponsored scourge from our soil and exposing the sponsors, financiers, aiders and abettors sitting across our borders.
Globally, the terrorism landscape has also evolved significantly. Terrorist attacks continue and terrorist groups have also proliferated geographically.
As noted in the SG’s report, the threat posed by Da’esh has increased steadily, becoming more complex and intensifying in multiple theatres, notably in West and Central Africa, the Sahel, and our region – South Asia.
While continuing to operate in Syria and Iraq, albeit with a diminished capacity, Da’esh and its affiliates are persisting with recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters, increased utilisation of modern ICTs to organize and recruit online, terror financing through digital wallets and crypto currencies, use of unmanned aerial systems, and exploitation of social media and AI for propaganda purposes.
The international community must address the contemporary terrorist threat through a collective, comprehensive and coordinated response including through the balanced implementation of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy (GCTS).
In this regard: First of all, we must effectively tackle the terrorist threats from Afghanistan. As documented by the Monitoring Team, the Afghan de facto authorities (DFA) provide a permissive environment for a range of terrorist groups, notably TTP; Al-Qaida continues to enjoy the patronage of DFA; ISIL-K remains active with an external focus and ETIM/TIP members move freely within Afghanistan.
These terrorist groups pose a threat not only to Pakistan, but to the entire region and beyond. Recent terrorist activity in Central Asia close to the Afghan border has validated earlier warnings.
It has become imperative to prevent the billions of dollars of sophisticated weapons and equipment left behind by foreign forces in Afghanistan, from falling into the hands of terrorists.
Secondly, there must be accountability of external destabilizing actors who support, finance and arm these groups, including their proxies in Afghanistan.
Thirdly, there must be zero tolerance for state terrorism – of the type on crass display in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and other situations of foreign occupation.
Occupation and accompanying repression cannot be masked as counterterrorism to suppress the internationally recognized and UN sanctioned legitimate struggles of peoples against foreign occupation and for their inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and international legitimacy.
Fourth, the need to adapt the UN counter terrorism architecture and sanctions regimes to ensure that they adequately respond to current challenges and represent a fair, just and comprehensive mechanism to address the global scourge of terrorism.
Counter-terrorism policies have so far singled out only the adherents of one religion – that’s Muslims.
There is a need to encompass the new and emerging forms of terrorism including white supremacists, far right extremists, violent nationalist, fascist, xenophobic, Islamophobic and anti-Muslim groups, and similar ideologies in various parts of the world. Mr. President.
Terrorism can be defeated only through unity and cooperation, without any double standards or discrimination, addressing the root causes and by preventing its exploitation for politically motivated agendas.
The forthcoming 9th GCTS review this year offers a valuable opportunity to renew our collective resolve to take practical steps for preventing and countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations by plugging the identified gaps, thereby refreshing the international consensus on effective international efforts.
Pakistan will continue to support multilateral efforts aimed at devising comprehensive and holistic strategies to combat and eradicate this menace through collective endeavours and cooperation.”
