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Mr. President,
We are
delighted to see you assume the Presidency of the Security Council at this
critical moment for international peace and security and for the United Nations.
2. The debate convened on the issue of “threats to international peace and
security caused by terrorist attacks” is important and timely. The catastrophic
terrorist attacks of September 11, last year, mobilized the international
community to launch a comprehensive campaign against terrorism.
3. The Security Council has made a significant contribution to this campaign
including through the series of resolutions it has adopted – resolutions 1368
calling on all states to work together to bring to justice “the perpetrators,
organizers and sponsors” of the atrocities of 9/11; resolution 1373 adopted
almost a year ago this week, which aimed at cutting off the supply lines –
financial, military, and logistical, etc. – of terrorists; resolution 1377
calling on all states to eliminate the scourge of terrorism; and 1390 targeting
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
4. On the ground, an international coalition was quickly constituted and has
waged a successful war against the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in
Afghanistan and elsewhere. Almost a year later, the Al-Qaeda has been virtually
destroyed and the government which harbored and protected these terrorists
ejected from power. The Bonn process, supplemented by the Tokyo Conference, has
opened the way for the installation of a representative government in Kabul, led
by President Hamid Karzai, and for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of
Afghanistan.
5. However, the war against terrorism in Afghanistan is not yet fully won.
Coalition forces are still pursuing the remnants of Al-Qaeda in the mountains
and valleys of Afghanistan. This final mopping up operation is likely to be
painstaking and time consuming. In the meantime, the international community,
which has organized itself admirably in Afghanistan under the guidance of the
Secretary-General and his Special Representative, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, cannot
afford to become complacent. Security continues to be under threat in
Afghanistan, from a variety of sources including tribal and regional rivalries
and the quest of certain individuals for power and influence. Pakistan continues
to believe, and to urge, that the international community should deploy
additional forces, especially in the regional centers, as a means of
consolidating peace and security in Afghanistan and ensuring that the writ of
President. Karzai runs over the entire country. Failure to take timely action
for the consolidation of security in Afghanistan could prove to be very costly
in the future.
Mr. President,
6. It is equally important to simultaneously commence the process of
rehabilitation and reconstruction in Afghanistan under the auspices of President
Karzai’s government. Apart from generating economic revival and creating jobs,
this will also help to extend the influence and authority of the government in
Kabul to all Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
7. Even as the international community acts to consolidate peace and security
and revive economic activity in Afghanistan, the need to support Pakistan in its
multiple endeavours to combat terrorism should not be overlooked. As President
Musharraf stated in the General Assembly: “Pakistan is in the forefront of the
fight against terrorism. We have made major sacrifices in this war. We have
interdicted infiltration by Al-Qaeda into Pakistan. We have arrested and
deported foreign suspects found on our territory. We are determined not to allow
anyone to use our soil for terrorist acts inside or outside Pakistan”.
8. Pakistan continues to conduct extensive operations on its western border
involving a sizeable number of its military and para-military forces to
interdict Al-Qaeda infiltration, even as coalition forces undertake simultaneous
operations on the other side of the Durand Line.
9. With equal vigour, the Pakistan government agencies are engaged in an
extensive operation to hunt down Al-Qaeda and other terrorists who may have
infiltrated into Pakistan. Some have been discovered in the border regions while
others were found hiding in our cities. This intelligence and police operation
has proved to be highly successful, resulting in the capture of some of the top
leadership of Al-Qaeda. We are confident of further and ultimate success in
capturing any remaining Al-Qaeda members on the run.
10. It was to be expected, Mr. President, that the terrorists, when cornered,
would seek retaliation and revenge. In the war against terrorism, Pakistan has
become not only the frontline fighter but also the frontline target of the
terrorists. To draw publicity to their acts of vengeance and violence, the
terrorists have focused on attacking foreigners as well as members of Pakistan’s
Christian community. We condemn and deplore these attacks and the resulting loss
of innocent lives. Yet, the fact that the terrorists are attacking innocents and
“soft targets” is an indication that their capacities have been severely eroded.
Pakistan is determined to pursue the operation until complete success is
achieved to eliminate and eradicate these terrorists.
11. It is unfortunate that in certain recent incidents of terrorism in Pakistan,
we have found some grounds to suspect that there are external agencies other
than the Al-Qaeda who may have been responsible for these terrorist acts.
12. Just this morning there was a condemnable attack by gunmen against the Girls
Islamic School in Lahore and another attack on a Christian Hospital in Bannu, in
north-western Pakistan. A young girl was injured in Lahore. Fortunately, there
were no injuries in the Bannu attack.
Mr. President,
13. The Government of Pakistan is also seeking to “clear the pond” in which
extremists and terrorists could survive. The Security Council is aware through
the detailed reports submitted by Pakistan to the CTC and under resolution 1373
of the extensive legislative, administrative and operational measures which the
Pakistani government has adopted to arrest and eradicate all domestic
manifestations of terrorism and extremism in Pakistan.
14. Our campaign against terrorism and extremism is part of the endeavour of
President Musharraf’s government to realize the vision of our founder,
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, for the emergence of Pakistan as a modern,
tolerant, democratic Islamic State. President Musharraf’s government has
launched the country towards this vision, introducing comprehensive
socio-economic reforms and restructuring our polity, inter alia, through
grassroots democracy, the empowerment of women, an ambitious programme of human
resources development.
15. As we move to the stage of completing the process of democratic revival with
the holding of National and Provincial Assembly elections in Pakistan on 10
October – six days away -- it is our hope and expectation that our friends in
the international community will continue their support for Pakistan’s
comprehensive endeavour for rapid socio-economic development and to realize
thereby, our peoples’ aspirations for peace, security and prosperity.
Mr. President,
16. It must be in the knowledge of the Council that Pakistan’s ability to
support the international struggle against terrorism – and our aspirations for
peace and prosperity -- could be significantly eroded by the military threat
against Pakistan from our eastern neighbour. Misusing the rationale of the
anti-terrorist campaign, this neighbour has deployed one million troops on
Pakistan’s border and along the Line of Control in Kashmir. It has repeatedly
threatened to use force against Pakistan. It refuses mutual de-escalation of
forces; it refuses bilateral dialogue; it refuses third party mediation; it
refuses the Secretary-General’s good offices; and it refuses to end its military
repression of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and justifies this by denigrating
the noble Kashmiri freedom struggle as “criss border terrorists”. The Kashmiris
are struggling to exercise their right to self -determination as promised to
them by this Security Council in a number of its resolutions. These Security
Council resolutions must also be faithfully implemented.
Mr. President,
17. If the war against terrorism is to be brought to a successful conclusion, it
is vital to ensure that it is in no way misappropriated by interested parties
who want to suppress the fundamental right of peoples under colonial and alien
occupation or domination to struggle for their right to self-determination and
freedom. As the President of Pakistan stated in the General Assembly on 12
September “Acts of terrorism by individuals or groups cannot be the
justification to outlaw the just struggle of a people for self-determination and
liberation from colonial or foreign occupation. Nor can it justify state
terrorism.”
Mr. President,
18. There is another, less recognized threat to the successful conclusion of the
anti-terrorist campaign – the danger of unwillingly provoking a clash of
religions and cultures. Obviously, some quarters have a vested interest in
utilizing the war against terrorism as a vehicle to spread hatred against Islam
and Muslims. Some of these people live close to us. But, let us remember:
Terrorism has a history; but it has no religion or creed. President Musharraf,
in his address to the General Assembly said: “In our global world, religious and
cultural diversity should be a vehicle for complementary creativity and
dynamism, not the rationale for a new ideological or political confrontation”.
The veil of mutual suspicion and ignorance between the West and Islam which has
become so visible over the last year can only be lifted through an open and
sustained dialogue. The President of Pakistan has proposed that, as a first
step, the General Assembly should adopt a Declaration on Religious and Cultural
Understanding, Harmony and Cooperation.
19. The attempt to equate Islam and Muslims with terrorism is exacerbating
discrimination against Muslim minorities and peoples in various parts of the
world. Unless this trend is reversed, it could result in another age old
manifestation of terrorism -- organized pogroms against minorities and
suppressed peoples, such as the one the world witnessed against the Muslims of
Gujarat earlier this year.
Mr. President,
20. Even as we take practical and legal measures to combat the phenomenon of
terrorism, the international community must initiate comprehensive and effective
steps to address the root causes of terrorism. Terrorism often arises from
political and economic injustice; from foreign occupation and repression of
peoples; from festering disputes and conflicts among nations; and from economic
deprivation and poverty which provides a fertile field in which fanaticism
flourishes. The efforts of the Security Council to eliminate terrorist threats
must, therefore, embrace the endeavour to address these root causes of terrorism
in particular through the promotion of just and peaceful solutions to conflicts
and disputes and the promotion of prosperity for all peoples.
Thank you, Mr. President.