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Mr. President,
I would like to express my gratitude to you for convening this briefing on UNAMA and for the Prime Minister of Norway for his presence here today.
I would also like to thank Secretary General Guterres and his Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Deborah Lyons, for their important briefings.
I also welcome the powerful message that Ms. Mehbouba Seraj has conveyed, as well as the interesting statement from my dear brother from Afghanistan Mr. Naseer Ahmad Faiq. We listened to two Afghan citizens today. I believe that our debate would have been more interactive and more productive if we were also able to listen to a representative from the interim Government, so that we could achieve some progress through these discussions.
Mr. President,
Due to the cumulative impact of conflict, drought, external dependency and sequestered assets, millions of Afghan men, women and children are, as the UN Secretary-General has described, "in a race against time," to avoid death from hunger amidst a brutal winter. As the Secretary-General himself has put it, "freezing temperatures and frozen assets are a lethal combination".
Without humanitarian assistance, chaos and renewed conflict could return to Afghanistan with an exodus of refugees, and an escalation of a terrorist threat.
We commend the leadership of Secretary General Guterres in mobilizing international support for the Afghan people and the critical help being provided by UN OCHA, WFP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO and other UN as well as international and non-governmental organizations, including the ICRC to the Afghan people.
We hope and trust that the international community will respond positively and generously to the UN humanitarian and refugee response appeals launched by the Secretary General, first on 11 January 2022, seeking US $ 5 billion, in emergency support for the people of Afghanistan and one announced today on One-UN Transitional Engagement Framework for Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
While there was never any doubt that the targeted sanctions against certain individuals and entities in Afghanistan should not prevent humanitarian, economic, or developmental assistance to Afghanistan, the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution 2615(2021) has reaffirmed and clarified this understanding.
Pakistan believes that all actors can now undertake their actions in Afghanistan without fear of arbitrary censure or restraints. We welcome the release of some funds by the World Bank and urge that the rest of the allocations for Afghanistan should be released forthwith.
Above all, it is vital to unfreeze Afghanistan's reserves. There is no legal justification for depriving the Afghan people of their national assets. This money is critically needed to sustain and stabilize and revive the Afghan economy and to save millions of lives of poor and hungry Afghan children, women and men. This would be the most effective and generous display of solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
Pakistan is doing all it can to help our Afghan brothers and sisters. We have provided $30 million in food and other assistance. We have established a land and air bridge for the international and UN assistance to Afghanistan. We are helping restore hospitals and other facilities. We have opened our borders for Afghans in need of medical support. And of course, we continue to care for nearly 4 million Afghan refugees, until they are able to return to their homes.
Mr. President,
On 18-19 December 20221, together with Saudi Arabia, Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference to mobilize support for the Afghan people. The meeting has set up a Humanitarian Trust Fund and will help to revive the Afghan banking system. The OIC will work closely with the UN in this endeavour.
Pakistan support the objective of an inclusive government and respect for the human rights of all Afghans especially women and girls. We are aware of the discussions that are taking place in various locations to promote such inclusivity and we hope that this would be a success. We also note the Acting Government's assurances with regard to the provision of education for girls and we look forward to the reopening of the girls' schools next month. 14. We are also aware of the assurances that have been provided that the instances of arbitrary arrets and violations of human rights will be investigated, and we hope that these assurances will be implemented.
Mr. President,
Pakistan reaffirms the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan and in ensuring that the territory of Afghanistan is not used a platform or a safe-haven by any terrorist group or organization.
We are glad that sponsors of terrorism against Pakistan have been obliged to exit from Afghanistan. It is important that the international community engage with the Taliban in order to develop appropriate modalities for cooperative action against terrorism from Afghanistan. This is a principal priority for Pakistan.
Mr. President,
Pakistan believes that the international community should continue and enhance its engagement with the new Government in Afghanistan utilizing all available formats - the Extended Troika, the six neighbor's platform, the OIC as well as other multilateral and bilateral consultations, such as those convened by Norway earlier this week in Oslo.
Mr. President,
It is only through dialogue, it is only through consultations and mutual persuasion that we will be able to achieve agreed outcomes. Coercion is not the road to peace in Afghanistan. It has not been in the past 20 years and it will not be in the future.
Mr. President,
We support the SRSG's proposal to develop a pathway - I call it a roadmap - to stabilize Afghanistan. This should incorporate the expectations of the international community - for inclusivity, human and women's rights and counter-terrorism - as well as the expectations that have been voiced by the interim Afghan Government - for economic and financial support, an end to sanctions and eventual recognition.
Mr. President,
UNAMA is playing an important role in this critical moment of transition. We welcome the close cooperation established between UNAMA and the new authorities. UNAMA will continue to have an important role in future, in coordinating and ensuring timely and expedited delivery of humanitarian and emergency assistance; supporting the revival of the Afghan economy and financial system; building the capacity of Afghan institutions; and facilitating the revival and implementation of reconstruction and connectivity projects.
We look forward to the Secretary-General's report on the new UNAMA mandate. This mandate should enjoy the endorsement and full support of the interim Afghan Government and respect Afghanistan's sovereignty.
Mr. President,
As we meet today, there are reasons for concern and we have heard them. But there are also reasons for optimism.
We are encouraged that, after 40 years, there is no internal conflict in Afghanistan. There are no foreign forces in Afghanistan. There is one government which controls the entire country. Internal security has improved. And corruption has been curtailed.
There is an opportunity for sustained peace in Afghanistan which can end the suffering of the Afghan people and enhance peace and stability in the entire region.
Pakistan has a vital stake in realizing such a vision of peace and stability
Thank you.