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Mr. Chairman,
I wish to congratulate you on assuming the Chairmanship of the Sixth
Committee during the Sixtieth Session of the General Assembly. We are confident
that under your able leadership the Committee would be able to make progress in
its work.
2. I also wish to extend the profound condolences of the Government and people
of Pakistan to the victims of terrorism around the world, particularly those
affected by the recent terrorist incidents in Bali.
3. International terrorism constitutes one of the most pervasive threats we
confront today. It threatens to destabilize all modern societies. It emanates
from virtually all societies. Claims of immunity from this phenomenon mask the
truth. The need for all States to work together, in a coordinated and
cooperative manner, to address this menace comprehensively in all its forms and
manifestations, was never as acute as today.
Mr. Chairman,
4. Pakistan has been a major target of terrorism. For decades, we faced State
sponsored terrorism designed to destabilize our country. Such mischief has not
ended. Since 9/11, we have been in the forefront of the international war
against terrorism. Recently, we have launched large-scale operations in the
tribal regions along the border with Afghanistan against terrorists and other
criminals. As a result of our efforts, a number of terrorists have been captured
or arrested including 700 Al-Qaeda operatives. Besides police and military
action, Pakistan is closely cooperating, including through intelligence sharing,
to curb terrorist financing.
5. We have strengthened our domestic legal and administrative framework and
signed or ratified 11 out of 13 UN Conventions and Protocols against terrorism.
Domestically, Pakistan has banned extremist organizations, detained extremists,
outlawed hate material and the misuse of religious institutions, including
madrassas.
Mr. Chairman,
6. The 2005 Summit has unequivocally condemned terrorism “in all its forms and
manifestations, committed by whomsoever, wherever and for whatever purposes…” It
sought the adoption and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to counter
terrorism. It agreed to consider convening a high-level UN Conference to
formulate an international response to terrorism. It recognized the UN’s
“important role” in combating terrorism. And, it stressed “the need to make
efforts to reach agreement on and conclude a comprehensive convention on
international terrorism” during the General Assembly’s 60th session.
7. This Committee has successfully promoted the consensus adoption of the
Convention on Nuclear Terrorism early this year. We wish to congratulate the
Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, Mr. Rohan Perera for his efforts. Pakistan
will continue to work with other delegations to achieve a similar consensus on
the comprehensive convention. We believe that the agreement on terrorism reached
at the Summit can facilitate the emergence of consensus on the draft
comprehensive convention.
8. We support the OIC’s position that negotiations on the draft convention
should be conducted on the basis of reports of the Ad Hoc Committee and the
Working Group of the Sixth Committee.
9. In finalizing the comprehensive convention, we need to focus on the areas of
difference which have so far prevented consensus on the convention. This arises
from the exception sought to be made in Article 18, Sub-para 2 and 3 i.e. to
exclude armed forces from the purview of the convention. In our view, such a
blanket exclusion is untenable. It is obviously inconsistent with the agreement
at the Summit which, I repeat, condemned terrorism “in all its forms and
manifestations, committed by whomsoever, whenever, and for whatever purposes…”.
Thus, if terrorist acts outlined in the draft convention are carried out by
“armed forces”, for example while suppressing the struggle of a people for
self-determination, or during the course of foreign occupation, or in instances
of genocide – such as in Srebrenica and Rwanda – their actions cannot be ipso
facto excluded from the scope of this convention. It is not sufficient to say
that their activities are governed by other provisions of international law. So
are the activities of irregular groups or guerilla movements. Both are covered
by the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and their Protocols.
10. The best solution therefore could be one, to insert in the convention the
provisions of para-81 of the Summit’s Outcome Document; and two, to delete sub-paras
(2) & (3) of the draft comprehensive convention. If there is insistence on
retaining these sub-paras, we shall have to find ways to appropriately qualify
and limit the exclusion of armed forces from the scope of the convention e.g. by
defining the conditions under which such an exclusion is possible and by
affirming that the provisions of the convention do not in any way compromise or
constrain the legitimate right of peoples to struggle for their right to
self-determination and against foreign occupation. We could also achieve the
same objective by including in the convention a consensual legal definition of
terrorism which clarifies and affirms the legitimacy of the right of peoples
struggle for their right to self-determination and against foreign occupation.
Mr. Chairman,
11. During this session, the General Assembly will also make efforts to adopt a
comprehensive strategy, in accordance with the Summit’s decision. While we
welcome the Secretary-General’s proposal for such a strategy, we believe that
the elements he has suggested will need to be elaborated and refined. The
strategy should include, of course, the adoption of international legislation,
including the draft comprehensive convention under consideration in this
Committee. It should encompass the measures for international cooperation
against terrorism already approved under Security Council resolution 1373 and
subsequent resolutions. It should seek to build States’ capacity to counter
terrorism. In accordance with the Summit’s decision, the strategy cannot exclude
acts of terrorism perpetrated by States. The killing of innocent civilians is
abhorrent whether committed by individuals, groups or States. We have witnessed
in our region the large scale murder and violence by State forces against
innocent civilians striving for their right to self determination. This form of
terrorism has not yet ended. The campaign against terrorism should not be
allowed to be used as a cover to suppress the legitimate struggles of peoples
for self determination or against foreign occupation or to continue the massive
violation of human rights.
Mr. Chairman,
12. The Secretary General has stated that the strategy should seek to ‘dissuade
disaffected groups from choosing terrorism as a tactic’. I believe we can do so
only if the comprehensive strategy addresses the underlying causes of terrorism.
13. Addressing the underlying causes of terrorism in no way implies justifying
terrorism. But if we are to succeed in eliminating terrorism, we shall perforce
need to address and eliminate the causes and conditions which give rise to most
of the current terrorist acts in many parts of the world. To assert that ‘we
cannot, and need not redress all the grievances that terrorists claim to be
advancing’ is a recipe for failure. We will have to eliminate the threat of
terrorism by winning the minds and hearts of potential terrorists.
14. President Musharraf has underlined the need for adopting separate short and
long-term strategies to address terrorism and extremism. This comprehensive
approach is reflected in his proposal for “Enlightened Moderation”. While
confronting terrorism, it is essential to promote the just resolution of
political disputes, including Palestine and Kashmir, and to promote
socio-economic revival in developing countries, specially the Muslim world. We
believe that conflict resolution, socio-economic revival, and dialogue and
cooperation among religions, faiths and cultures should constitute an essential
part of the comprehensive strategy against terrorism.
Mr. Chairman,
15. Pakistan believes that the implementation of a comprehensive strategy will
require – appropriate institutional support. Such institutional support could be
provided by the establishment of an International Counter Terrorism Center, as
proposed by His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.
16. We hope that the President of the General Assembly will soon propose an open
and inclusive mechanism to elaborate the comprehensive strategy.
Mr. Chairman,
17. The objective we all espouse, to make our world safe from terrorist
violence, is essential and, indeed, imperative, for international peace and
stability; for development and prosperity; and for the promotion and respect for
human rights. Pakistan will work to realize this vital objective, here in this
Committee, in other forums and in our bilateral cooperation with all
peace-loving peoples and nations,
Thank you.