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Mr. Chairman,
Pakistan supports UN and international efforts to address humanitarian
situations resulting from indiscriminate and irresponsible use of mines and
unexploded ordnance.
2. We believe our discussion under the agenda item must be focused on
humanitarian de-mining, and in that context, on the assistance in mine clearance
and rehabilitation of mine victims, and other activities such as raising
awareness in and national capacity building of mine affected states in modern
de-mining techniques. We would also like to underline here that the development
and implementation of policies, strategies and activities of the organization
related to mine action must be approved and reviewed by the Member States. Any
attempt, direct or indirect, to impose treaty obligations on non states parties
in the name of assistance in mine clearance and mine action should not be
allowed. Apart from questions over legality or value addition, such efforts may
be counterproductive to the noble and shared objective to assist in mine
clearance.
3. Pakistan supports the eventual elimination of anti-personnel mines. However,
Pakistan was unable to join the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty due to its
legitimate security concerns. It would be difficult to realize a universal ban
on landmines unless and until viable alternatives were available. In the
meanwhile, Pakistan is favourably inclined towards negotiating an international
legal instrument against the transfer of APLs at the Conference on Disarmament
in Geneva.
4. Pakistan is a party to the amended Protocol II to the Convention on Certain
Conventional Weapons which allows responsible uses of landmines. Consistent with
its obligations under the Protocol, Pakistan has regulated the use of
anti-personnel mines, including inter alia the effective exclusion of civilians
from mined areas through marking, fencing and monitoring. Pakistan produces only
detectable antipersonnel mines since 1 January 1997. Pakistan declared a
unilateral moratorium on the export of land mines in March 1997, which was
reinforced by the issuance of a notification (SRO) by the Government on 25
February 1999 under the Import and Export (Control) Act, 1950. It may be
mentioned that this moratorium is voluntary and is not required under Protocol
II of the CCW.
Mr. Chairman,
5. Millions of civilians are threatened by mines in the mine affected countries.
Unexploded mines and ordnance place a heavy burden on social and economic
reconstruction of war ravaged countries. The need to put more resources and
efforts into mine clearance operations, and socio-economic rehabilitation and
development is therefore evident. A sustained collective effort is required.
6. When we speak on this issue, we do so with an accomplished record of
contribution to this collective effort. Known for their high professional
standards, Pakistani troops have been confidently employed by the UN in various
humanitarian de-mining operations with excellent results. Pakistani
peace-keeping contingents have also voluntarily offered to assist local
authorities in mine clearance. Pakistan has participated in de-mining operations
under UN auspices in Kuwait, Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Somalia, Eastern
Slovenia, Western Sahara and Bosnia.
7. In Kuwait, in the aftermath of the first Gulf war, Pakistan participated in
the biggest Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operation of recent history. The
tasks performed by Pakistani personnel in Kuwait included: lifting of 95 km of
mines; clearance of 8 major dumps each having 600-700 tons of ammunition;
destruction of 500 tons of unserviceable ammunition; EOD clearance (all types)
on an area of 400 sq km; barbed wire clearance over 95 sq km; recovery and
back-loading of 4500 damaged/destroyed vehicles; and backfilling of lines of
defense including trenches, bunkers, and gun emplacement.
8. Angola was the third heaviest mine infested country in the world after
Cambodia and Afghanistan. Pakistan was selected to undertake mine clearance
operations and impart training by establishing UN De-mining School in Cambodia
for the purpose. The UN plan envisaged establishing a headquarters at national
level and deployment of four de-mining brigades at the regional level. Of the 4
regional HQs, two were fully made up of Pakistani personnel and one had mixed UN
contribution, headed by a Pakistani officer.
9. In Afghanistan, landmines and unexploded ordnance caused a humanitarian
tragedy that afflicted civilians, largely women and children. Pakistan
contributed to “operation salam” by establishing training camps on humanitarian
grounds to provide training in mine clearance and explosive neutralization
techniques. Since 1989, Pakistan played an active role in the de-mining
operations in Afghanistan by providing military contingents, mine detectors,
training facilities and medical facilities for de-miners injured in mine
clearance operation. We have also been providing medical facilities including
artificial limbs to Afghan mine victims.
10. We have provided training assistance for humanitarian de-mining in Sri
Lanka. Pakistan will also be contributing to the mine clearance operations in
Sudan.
11. From our experience in de-mining we have drawn the following conclusions
that we would like to share with member states:
· Response signal of 8 gms or more of iron is not the only method to ensure
detectability of mines.
· Mines laid by professional armed forces, if duly marked, fenced and monitored,
remain 100 percent detectable to the user, and pose minimal humanitarian risk.
· Technologically advanced mine detectors ensure effective de-mining, even of
non-detectable mines.
· Detectability of MOTAPM (Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines) is not linked
to the success of humanitarian de-mining operations.
· De-mining of areas affected by civil wars involving warring factions does
prove difficult, but our experience of de-mining in such situations has proven
that while it is time consuming and labour intensive as well as fraught with
dangers for de-miners, an integrated approach like the one practiced in Angola
and Kuwait can overcome the difficulties and achieve the desired objectives.
12. While concluding we hope all Member States would have the humanitarian
dimension of the issue foremost in our considerations and in that context would
be able to adopt the draft resolution under discussion by consensus.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.