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Mr. President,
I would like to express our profound gratitude to Ambassadors Moritan and Gunnarsson for leading a fair, transparent and consultative process of review. We commend their tireless efforts towards a consensual adoption of the resolution.
We also appreciate the constructive spirit of all delegations. Indeed, the tenth anniversary of the Global Counter Terrorism Strategy deserved a strong and united message from the UN Member States.
My delegation associates itself with the statement delivered by Saudi Arabia on behalf of the OIC.
Mr. President,
The sad events of the past few days in Turkey, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia have served as a harrowing reminder of the challenge we face today – a reminder that our task does not finish with the adoption of the resolution.
The scourge of terrorism continues. It rather has intensified. While our resolve remains firm, our mission remains unaccomplished. The revised and up-dated Strategy captures our collective determination to continue pursuing recommendations in four key areas - tackling the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism; preventing and combating terrorism; building capacities of Member States for implementation; and ensuring respect for human rights while countering terrorism.
Mr. President,
Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirms its unequivocal commitment to fight this battle, regardless of the cost. My country has made huge sacrifices in this battle, yet we persevere - our resolve and determination continues to strengthen.
No country is immune to terrorism or its negative effects. And no country alone can defeat this menace. The only way forward in this fight is strengthening international cooperation. And the United Nations, with its cardinal principles that seek to enhance the same, provides the best vehicle for the purpose - the resolution that we adopted last week represents the collective will of the General Assembly.
Mr. President,
Since the adoption of the Strategy ten years ago, Pakistan has accorded high importance to its implementation. Few countries can match the national efforts undertaken by Pakistan in the cause of counterterrorism. Fewer still can match our sacrifices.
Two years ago, Pakistan elaborated, in detail, its comprehensive efforts at the national level to counter terrorism. Since then we have further intensified measures and organized our efforts.
Our law enforcement operation, Zarb-e-Azab, has had significant successes. It is the single largest national counterterrorism operation anywhere in the world. We will continue this operation till we have achieved our objectives.
Establishment of special courts for terrorist offenders, arms control measures and strengthening of the National Counter Terrorism Authority and the Financial Monitoring Unit are all part of our robust countermeasures against terrorism. Last year, thanks to our national legislative measures, the Financial Action Task Force acknowledged that our counter-financing of terrorism measures were in line with its recommendations.
We have also shaped a 20-point National Action Plan to counter terrorism with a lot of focus on preventive actions. This includes measures against hate speech and sectarian violence, protection of minorities, prevention of exploitation of media and internet by terrorists and violent extremists, developing an effective counter-narrative to terrorist propaganda, reform of the educational system, registration and regularization of madressahs, political reconciliation and economic uplift programmes for targeted areas, criminal justice sector reform and registration of refugees.
Mr. President,
Fully realizing the need for a “whole of society” approach, the Government of Pakistan undertook concerted efforts towards promotion and protection of women rights, enhancing the capacity of our law enforcement agencies and harnessing the potential of youth. The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme has benefitted thousands of youth in completing education or pursuing higher studies, as well as encouraging entrepreneurship, with a view to providing them hope and future, while saving them from despair and despondency.
In pursuing our goals, we have also benefitted from cooperation with UN agencies, in particular our work with the CTITF for youth skills development programme and partnership with the CTED for enhancing capability of our criminal justice sector.
While Pakistan, in its national capacity, will continue to do all it can, there are many areas of work, both in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism, which require bilateral and international cooperation for success. Pakistan is keen on creating an environment that is conducive to such cooperation.
Mr. President,
Before I conclude, let me assure you of Pakistan’s continued and tireless efforts to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism nationally, regionally and internationally, as well as our constructive engagement with other Member States at the United Nations to build a consensual and normative framework to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
I thank you.