Pakistan Appeals to UNSC for Action Against Terrorism from Afghanistan
Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram urged the UNSC to take action against terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, emphasizing their threats to regional and global security. He highlighted the need for accountability regarding state-sponsored terrorism and called for the international community to address root causes of terrorism, asserting that current counter-terrorism strategies must evolve to meet new challenges.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has called upon the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take decisive action against terrorist groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Majeed Brigade, which are operating from sanctuaries within Afghanistan. In a discussion regarding the Secretary-General’s report on Da’esh’s menace to global peace, he emphasized that this threat extends beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan, posing risks to the larger region.
During the debate, Ambassador Akram pointed out that the international community has not adequately addressed state-sponsored terrorism, which silences legitimate self-determination movements and continues foreign occupations. He insisted on the necessity for accountability regarding violations of basic human rights, particularly in light of the struggles faced by the Kashmiri and Palestinian peoples.
UN Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, leading the Office of Counter-Terrorism, underscored that Da’esh remains a formidable global security threat despite concerted efforts to diminish its influence. He stated, “Terrorism remains a significant and evolving threat to global peace and security, one that no State can confront in isolation.”
Ambassador Akram noted a global surge in terrorist activities, particularly across the Middle East, Africa, and originating from Afghanistan. He acknowledged Pakistan’s role in diminishing Al-Qaeda’s core in Afghanistan. However, he revealed that Al-Qaeda affiliates have re-emerged in regions including North and Sub-Saharan Africa, while Da’esh has spawned offshoots in Afghanistan despite setbacks in Syria and Iraq.
He stated that there are more than twenty terrorist factions currently operating in Afghanistan, with the country serving as an essential hub for ISIL-K’s recruitment. Akram rejected any claims suggesting the presence of recruitment activities for these groups within Pakistan. He advocated for the necessity of addressing the root causes of terrorism, such as poverty, injustice, unresolved conflict, and foreign occupation.
He further argued for essential reform in the UN’s counter-terrorism framework, advocating for systems that are capable of tackling contemporary challenges while ensuring fairness and comprehensiveness. Additionally, he expressed concerns about emerging cyber tools used for orchestrating terrorism, including the dark web and cryptocurrencies, which facilitate radicalization and terror financing through social media.
To genuinely overcome terrorism, he insisted on confronting new and evolving dangers that include violent actions driven by extremist ideologies across various global environments. The ambassador criticized current counter-terrorism policies for predominantly focusing on Islam as a singular source of violence and highlighted the need to acknowledge how such approaches contribute to Islamophobia.
In summary, Ambassador Munir Akram’s appeal to the UNSC highlights the pressing need for unified action against terrorist groups exploiting Afghanistan. He underscored the importance of addressing both state-sponsored terrorism and the underlying causes that breed extremism, while calling for significant reform in global counter-terrorism strategies. The discourse at the UN reflects a critical juncture in how the international community might better coordinate efforts against terrorism.
Original Source: dunyanews.tv
