UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that a United States drone attack that killed Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, on the Pakistani territory had dealt a blow to the Afghan peace process, further complicating the situation.
Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said this while speaking in a debate for Afghanistan’s situation. She said, “The US drone strike on our territory was a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a blatant breach of the principles of the UN Charter and international law.”
The Pakistani envoy said, “This is an unacceptable action and had added to the intensity and complexity of the Afghan conflict.”
Ambassador Lodhi said the drone action had raised serious questions about whether the international community is ready to invest in war instead of peace in Afghanistan adding that the use of force over the last 15 years had not led to peace.
Ambassador Lodhi took exception to remarks by Afghanistan’s UN Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal accusing Pakistani of interference in his country’s internal affairs and allowing anti-Afghan terrorist groups to operate from safe havens inside the Pakistani territory.
Lodhi said, “Let me at the outset reject the unjustified, untrue and gratuitous comments made by the Afghan representative, casting uncalled for aspersions on my country and our state institutions.”
She said, “The international community is well aware of and acknowledges Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices in countering terrorism while reaffirming Pakistan’s support to a genuine Afghan peace process.”
“This is a grave moment for the people of Afghanistan, for the region, and for the international community, which has invested so much blood and treasure to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan”, she added. Ambassador Lodhi went on to ask the government of Afghanistan not to externalize its internal problems and blame others for its own failures. Other than Afghanistan, Pakistan had suffered more than any other country from the consequences of terrorism, she said.
She further said, “Effective border management is the sovereign right of my country, stressing that there was nothing illegal about any construction on Pakistan’s side of the border, while rebutting the Afghan ambassador’s claim.”
Lodhi said Pakistan will take measures on its side of the border accordingly adding that it is disingenuous to characterise steps aimed at regulating the border as illegal and there is nothing, nothing illegal, about any construction on our side of the border
Ambassador Lodhi said the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States remained a viable mechanism to promote a genuine peace process if pursued with patience and perseverance.
She said, “Success will be assured only when the Afghan parties themselves come to the conclusion that there is no military solution to the Afghan war and peace can be achieved only through an unconditional dialogue, which will require difficult compromises by both sides.” Ambassador Lodhi pointed to UN Secretary General’s Ban Ki-moon’s report, which said that there is no significant improvement in the political, security and economic situation in Afghanistan. She said that it is the responsibility of the Afghan government to deliver on commitments made to its own people, stressing that a negotiated peace is the only way to end the conflict.
Earlier, in a briefing to the Security Council, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Nicholas Haysom, voiced concern over the security situation in Afghanistan.
“The battlefield in many areas is in a state of flux, with gains and reversals but with neither side effecting clear dominance,” said Haysom, who is also head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). He said, “The security forces continue to face serious challenges including in addressing questions of morale, leadership, attrition and logistics and for now, though, they are holding their ground.”
Haysom said that he remains deeply concerned about the impact that the high level of violence is having on the civilian population. He said, “There has been no let-up during Ramazan, during which period there have been some reports of disturbing brutality including attacks on worshippers.”
