‘Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts’

Statement by the Permanent Representative of Pakistan in the United Nations Security Council on (20 July 2005)

Mr. President,

Let me first of all extend the warm felicitations of the Pakistan delegation to you and to the delegation of Greece on the skilful manner in which you are guiding the work of the Council. I would also like to extend our appreciation to Ambassador de La Sablière and the French delegation. Ambassador de La Sablière conducted his presidency with his usual grace, comprehension and competence.

2. I would also like to join other delegations in thanking the Chairmen of the three Committees, (Counter Terrorism Committee, Al Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee and the 1540 Committee) who have briefed the Council today. We support the efforts of all three Committees in promoting greater transparency and dialogue with member States concerning their respective areas of activities.
3. We hope that the three Committees would also ensure the involvement and participation of the general membership of the UN in their work. On this occasion, I would like to offer some specific comments on the reports we have received today:

1. Firstly, with regard to the Counter Terrorism Committee, we have noted the first country visits. We welcome the emphasis, particularly by the CTC, on providing counter terrorism related technical assistance to States.


2. On the Al Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee, we have noted the views of the Chairman about focusing on the ‘new and growing generation of supporters who may never have left their countries of residence but have embraced the core elements of the Al-Qaida message.’
3. Also we believe that sufficient evidence and identifying particulars must accompany new and existing designations on the Committee’s consolidated list. This is necessary to meet judicial and legal requirements and to allow national authorities to defend legal challenges to assets freeze and other sanctions measures.
4. With regard to the 1540 Committee, whose mandate is to prevent the acquisition of WMD by non-State actors, including terrorists, needs to focus on the absence of the definition of the various terms used in the resolution and the absence of agreed international standards to assess actions taken by member States to implement the resolution.
5. The Committee also has to take into account the different levels of State capacity to implement its provisions and it should ensure that it does not infringe upon or erode the authority or duplicate or complicate the work of established treaty regimes and international bodies established under those treaties. It this context, it will need to take into account that different States have differentiated nature of obligations under various treaties.

3. I would like to join others in expressing our solidarity with the victims and families of those affected by the recent terrorist incidents particularly in the United Kingdom and Turkey. We strongly condemn such acts of terrorism and reiterate our commitment to fighting this menace in all its forms and manifestations.
4. Geography and history have combined to present Pakistan with a special challenge and a special role in combating terrorism.
5. Pakistan’s commitment to the campaign against terrorism is clear, present, tangible and visible. In a recent statement at the National Youth Convention, President Musharraf made an appeal to ‘stand up and launch a jehad against extremism for peace, brotherhood and unity in the society and for knowledge, progress and poverty alleviation’.
6. Pakistan has taken a number of measures on the domestic front. For the first time in history, our armed forces have carried out operations, which are still ongoing, in the tribal areas along our border with Afghanistan. We have suffered over 300 casualties in this operation. We have been able to capture or extradite more than 600 terrorists including key operatives of the Al Qaida. Our government is also engaged in an active and direct campaign to eradicate extremism from our society. This campaign includes the reform of the Madrassas, a small fraction of which have preached extremist views. President Musharraf will outline our comprehensive efforts tomorrow in an address to the Nation.
7. The challenge of terrorism is both local and global. All those who have confronted terrorism and extremism know full well that success requires sustained and comprehensive efforts encompassing police action, societal change and creation of economic opportunities as well as the solution of political issues which provide the excuse and the oxygen to the terrorists. The responsibilities to address terrorism are, therefore, both national and international. The role of the UN is central and critical.
8. Within the UN, and especially through the three Committees reporting today, the international community is creating an international legal regime to counter all forms of terrorism. The deliberate killing or maiming of civilians is not justifiable. All acts of terrorism are condemnable whether committed by an individual, non State actor or a State. The absence of a definition of Terrorism should not hold up action against terrorism. At the same time, we must ensure that counter terrorism measures have inbuilt safeguards to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms including the right of peoples to self determination.
9. There can be no basis for the exclusion of State Terrorism, that is, the perpetration of sustained violence and brutalities by a State against an innocent civilian population whose only crime is its opposition to foreign occupation and the denial of the right of self determination. Nor can States conducting such terrorist acts against civilian populations be allowed to portray the resistance of these legitimate resistance movements as terrorism.
10. We support the Secretary General’s initiative for a comprehensive counter terrorism strategy. This must include measures to address the root of the problem. Root causes do not justify terrorism. But they explain it. And, such understanding of the causes of terrorism is essential to the success against this gruesome and unacceptable tactic. These causes include political and economic injustices, festering international disputes, foreign occupation, denial of the right of peoples to self determination as well as cultural, social, economic and political marginalization and alienation. The essence of President Musharraf’s strategy for Enlightened Moderation is to address the causes of terrorism at the root and comprehensively eradicate them.
11. The perception of being disadvantaged and even deliberately discriminated against, as a faith and culture, results in frictions within societies and often strengthens extremist forces. Promoting greater mutual understanding among all religions and cultures is now a political and a moral imperative. We must remove misunderstandings, especially deliberately propagated negative caricatures such as some we have heard today. It is important to emphasize that the vast majority of the adherents of any faith, especially Islam, are peaceful, tolerant, honest, just and caring people. Those who hold militant views are a small minority, and those who act on those militant views are an even smaller minority.
12. The central message of all religions is almost identical. The root causes of friction between cultures and civilizations are not primarily religious differences, but mostly competing political and economic interests and misunderstandings. We, therefore, strongly support the Spanish initiative for an Alliance of Civilizations.

Thank you, Mr. President.