NEW YORK: Pakistan on Tuesday rejected an Afghan allegation that the Afghan Taliban reorganise in Pakistan during winters, saying their sanctuaries had, in fact, shifted to Afghanistan.
Speaking at the UN Security Council debate, Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative Nabeel Munir, said that presence of large number of terrorist, violent 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.
“We reject the unsubstantiated assertion that the Taliban reorganize in Pakistan during the winter period,” he said. “Sanctuaries of terrorists have in fact shifted to Afghanistan due to our successful counter-terrorism Zarb-e-Azb operation, the results of which are widely acknowledged by the international community.”
Calling for an objective evaluation of the efforts to address the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, Munir said the drivers of the recent upsurge in violence “lie within Afghanistan” and not outside. Reaffirming Pakistan’s unflinching commitment to lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region, he cited Pakistan’s participation in the Heart of Asia meeting in Amritsar, despite escalation on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary with India, as the testimony to Pakistan’s commitment.
Pakistan expressed its continued support to regional and international efforts to achieve security and economic development in Afghanistan. “Our commitment of $500 million in Brussels was an expression of our firm resolve to never abandon Afghanistan.” Pakistan praised the resolve of the Afghan leadership to work together to address their differences in a spirit of cooperation and agreed with the UN secretary general that a united Afghan government was imperative to effectively address the multiple challenges the country faces.
About border management, Munir said Pakistan has always stressed the need for robust border management as it is critical to control cross-border movement. He told the 15-member council that implementation of the peace agreement with the Hizb-e-Islami signed by the Afghan government can serve as a model for talks with other groups as well.
