Statement by Ambassador Masood Khan, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, in the Security Council’s Debate on Somalia New York, 16 October 2012.

Mr. President,

Thank you for convening today’s meeting. We also thank SRSG Augustine Mahiga for his briefing.

  1. Pakistan welcomes Somalia’s progress over the past few critical months. Given the courage and resilience of the Somali people, this progress is no surprise to us. The people of Somalia have braved all difficulties to draw the Transition to a close.
  2. The Presidential and Parliamentary elections and the Prime Minister’s nomination herald a new political dispensation, which reflects the aspirations of the Somali people. Somalia is on the cusp of a new chapter in its history. We congratulate President Hassan Sheikh Mahmud on his election and wish him and his government success.
  3. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has helped create a stable and secure environment for meaningful political progress.
  4. Recent successes of AMISOM and Somali Security Forces have enabled pro-government forces to gain control over all major Somali cities. Peace and security in Somali urban centers will create salutary conditions for economic and political progress.
  5. The capture of the strategic port of Kismayo last month is a major step towards eliminating piracy off the Coast of Somalia. Pakistan has been a victim of piracy. We support addition of the maritime component to AMISOM for prevention of piracy. This component will reinforce the efforts of the international naval forces in the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters. We must not forget the plight of hostages held by pirates. A comprehensive approach to end piracy entails addressing its root causes, particularly illegal fishing and dumping of toxic wastes in Somali waters.
  6. AMISOM still faces asymmetric conflict with terrorists and extremists. The ongoing assessment of AMISOM must, therefore, take into account the different challenges faced by the Mission. AMISOM’s role will obviously be determined by the situation on ground. In the meantime, we urge the international community to ensure political and financial support for the Mission. This is necessary to secure the gains made so far and prevent a possible relapse of the conflict. We mustn’t be complacent.
  7. In many ways, AMISOM operations are a good example of successful cooperation between a regional organization and the United Nations. Africa’s collective and consensual response to its security challenges is very impressive. We commend the AMISOM Troop-contributing countries (TCCs) for their resilience and valour and the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for its sagacity and resolve.
  8. We support the African Union’s request for extending the support package for AMISOM.

Mr. President,

  1. SRSG Mahiga has cautioned that daunting challenges lie ahead in Somalia. Clear demarcation of goals and objectives is necessary to sustain the current momentum of progress. Last month, the Security Council commissioned the UN Secretary General to review the future of UN presence and underlined the need for an integrated strategic approach. We believe that the three considerations should guide us on this subject:

Mr. President,

  1. Pakistan and Somalia have strong links going back in history. We have contributed to the peacekeeping efforts in Somalia. Now is the time for peacebuilding. We will do whatever we can to help the Somali government accomplish this task. Our bonds will grow even stronger in the years to come. We will continue to support Somalia bilaterally as well as in our capacity as a member of the Security Council, the OIC Contact Group on Somalia and the UN Contact Group on Piracy. We assure the new government of Somalia of our fullest support.

I thank you Mr. President.