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Madam Chairperson,
My delegation would like to congratulate you on becoming the Chairperson of the Sixth Committee and other members of the Bureau on their election. We are confident that under your able leadership the Committee will make significant progress in addressing its important agenda. We assure you of our full cooperation.
My delegation aligns itself with the statements made by the distinguished representatives of the OIC Group and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on this agenda item.
Madam Chairperson,
Pakistan strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomsoever, wherever, and against whomsoever. We also reject senseless killings of civilians in any part of the world.
Pakistan is taking all possible measures to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. Pakistan has deployed more than 120,000 security forces along its border with Afghanistan. We have set up 938 border posts to interdict Al-Qaida/Taliban members. We have captured hundreds of Al-Qaida operatives, including most of its top leaders. Our cooperation has pre-empted several terrorist plots. We have lost precious lives of a number of our security personnel in anti-terrorist operations. We have made sacrifices in blood and treasure in the war against terrorism. Despite this our resolve in the fight against terrorism remains firm.
Madam Chairperson,
The world recognizes and applauds the important successes achieved by our security forces against terrorists. These successes have come at a heavy cost. More than 20,000 innocent civilians have fallen victim to terrorism. And more than 2,500 personnel of the security forces have offered the ultimate sacrifice. Our material losses are nearly US $ 50 billion.
The Pakistani nation will persist in its efforts to eliminate terrorism. The issue has both regional and global dimensions. It is imperative that all countries do more to combat this menace. Terrorism is a common threat that needs common solutions in a cooperative framework. Finger pointing reduces and does not enhance the prospects of cooperation.
Madam Chairperson,
The complex challenge of terrorism defies simplified solutions. The causes of terrorism are multiple and need a comprehensive response from the international community. The piecemeal response will neither address historical injustices nor will it resolve prolonged conflicts. The response of the international community has to be long-term and multi-pronged involving dialogue among civilizations, economic development, cultural harmony, dispute resolution, and political settlements. To achieve this objective Pakistan supports a comprehensive strategy and its balanced implementation to combat terrorism that must address the root causes of terrorism including prolonged unresolved conflicts, unlawful use of force, aggression, foreign occupation, denial of the right to self-determination, political and economic injustices, and political marginalization and alienation.
Madam Chairperson,
The General Assembly adopted the consensus resolution during the second review of the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy last month. We fully support the document because it enjoys consensus of the international community. It envisages political, operational, capacity building and human right measures to strengthen the global fight against terrorism. We can hardly escape the conclusion that the Strategy itself will be of little importance if it is not implemented in a comprehensive manner and in all its aspects. The primary responsibility to implement the Strategy at the national level rests with Member States, but its international “coordination and coherence” is facilitated by the CTITF.
The consensus resolution on the second review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy has underlined the importance of the observance of the rule of law and due process in the implementation of the Strategy. Pakistan supports the continuation of reform in procedures of the Security Council Committees to ensure due process. We welcome the recent efforts made by the Council and expect that the process will continue in the same direction.
The real added value of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, however, is that it has broadened the scope of the counter-terrorism to include the larger endeavour to eliminate extremism and build a more harmonious environment between the major civilizations. The implementation of the Strategy will achieve its desired objective if it addresses the problem of unjust defamation of certain religions and promotes economic and social development.
Madam Chairperson,
Pakistan fulfills its counter-terrorism obligations. Pakistan is a party to eleven (11) universal and two regional counter-terrorism instruments. At national level we have enacted Pakistan Arms Ordinance Act, the Surrender of Illicit Arms Act, the Terrorists Special Courts Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Control of Narcotics Substance Act, the Anti-Narcotics Force Act, the Pakistan Madrasah Education Board Ordinance, and the Anti-Money Laundering Bill.
Pakistan is a member of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering. We are party to the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and its Additional Protocol on Terrorist Financing.
While we recognize success of the United Nations General Assembly in adoption of a consensus UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and thirteen sectoral counter-terrorism instruments, we are in favour of the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism by consensus.
We remain open to discuss any proposal which does not in any way compromise or constrain the legitimate right of peoples to struggle for their right to self-determination and against foreign occupation.
Madam Chairperson,
In conclusion I will like to reiterate my delegation’s support for the proposal of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz to establish an international centre, under the auspices of the United Nations, to combat terrorism; the Egyptian proposal for a high-level conference on counter-terrorism; and the Tunisian proposal to develop an international counter-terrorism code of conduct within the United Nations framework to combat terrorism.
I thank you Madam Chairperson.