Statement by the Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, at the Security Council Debate on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (17 September 2018)

Mr. President,

I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Tadamichi Yamamoto, for his briefing.

Mr. President,

The situation in Afghanistan remains a source of concern for the international community.

A long war continues, exacerbated by ethnic and regional tensions, terrorism, and a fragile economy.

The Afghan people continue their epic suffering, with another record high period in civilian casualties, attested by the Secretary General's report. As Human Rights Watch put it: "civilians are losing the war in Afghanistan".

The recent upsurge in violence has compounded the prolonged suffering of the Afghan people. We strongly condemn all terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. There can be no justification for the indiscriminate killing of innocent children, women and men.

Mr. President,

Apart from Afghanistan, no country has suffered more from the four decades of war, turmoil and foreign interventions in Afghanistan, and no country has more to gain from peace there, than Pakistan.

For many years, Imran Khan, Pakistan's recently elected Prime Minister, has declared that peace in Afghanistan can be restored only through a negotiated political settlement between the principal parties.

In his very first address to the nation after the elections, Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirmed Pakistan's support to peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is the first country visited by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi over the last weekend - a clear signal of the importance that our new Government attaches to its relations with Afghanistan and of its commitment to promote peace and stability in that country.

His message in Kabul was that Pakistan remained ready to play a constructive role in facilitating peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Mr. President,

There are some signs that a negotiated end to Afghanistan's protracted war may be possible.

Hopes for peace received a boost last June when President Ashraf Ghani announced a cease-fire on Eid ul Fitr, and the Afghan Taliban did the same. For a few days, the ceasefire was comprehensively observed across the country by the Government and the Tehrik- e-Taleban Afghanistan ( TTA).

Apart from the general desire for peace, the ceasefire affirmed that peace was possible if the principal parties in Afghanistan desire it.

Pakistan welcomes the Trump Administration's acknowledgement that a negotiated political settlement is the best option to bring its longest war to an end. Pakistan has urged this course of action for over a decade.

The UN and the international community too have consistently declared that there is no military solution to the conflict and it must be ended through a negotiated settlement.

Agreement on launching a negotiating process is, however, not simple. Several past attempts have been aborted by unilateral actions. There is little trust between the main antagonists.

Preconditions have been set by some of the main parties to commence and continue a dialogue process.

To create an environment for peace talks, all sides should agree on a de-escalation of violence.

The principal responsibility for seizing the moment rests on the parties directly involved in the Afghan conflict. Unless they display flexibility, serious negotiations for a political settlement could be delayed.

For its part, Pakistan will actively encourage, support and facilitate all efforts to launch a credible peace process.

A negotiated peace and national reconciliation is all the more essential to enable the Afghan people and the international community to confront and eliminate the growing presence of Daesh in Afghanistan. Daesh, and a number of terrorist groups, which operate under its umbrella, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JUA), pose a threat to Afghanistan, its neighbors and indeed to the region. We agree with the Russian delegation that an international effort is needed to defeat Daesh in Afghanistan.

Mr. President,

Cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a vital component of the endeavor to realize peace and security within Afghanistan and the entire region.

Strengthening bilateral relations is a priority for my country's new Government. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) provides a framework for comprehensive and structured engagement between our two countries.

The inaugural session of APAPPS was held in Kabul in July. The operationalization of its five working groups will enable us address all bilateral issues, including broadening economic interaction, border management and refugee repatriation.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Management project has been designed to address multiple challenges including cross-border movement of terrorists and criminal elements, drug trafficking and smuggling, upgrading and increasing trade/transit terminals and automation of customs and other trade infrastructure.

We have taken a number of initiatives to support Afghanistan's economic development. At Kabul's request, Pakistan waived regulatory duty on imports from Afghanistan. As a result, Afghan exports to Pakistan have recorded a substantial increase in 2018.

We are also ready to extend all possible support to Kabul to overcome the growing challenge posed by illicit drug production and trade.

We remain gravely concerned at the increasing production of illicit drugs in Afghanistan, and its link with terrorist financing. We hope the international community will do more to help Afghanistan in evolving a comprehensive strategy to address this problem.

Mr. President,

The bonds of blood, language, faith, geography and history that tie the peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan to each other are immutable and unbreakable. Our destinies are and always will remain intertwined.

Cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is in the mutual and vital interest of both countries. We stand committed to working with the Afghan government for the improvement of our bilateral relationship and for the promotion of peace and stability. In both our countries and across the region.

I thank you, Mr. President.