Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram has urged the UNSC to take action against terrorist groups like TTP operating from Afghanistan, emphasizing the broader regional threat they pose. He criticized the international community for failing to address state terrorism and human rights violations in areas such as Kashmir and Palestine. Akram advocates for a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism that addresses root causes and emerging threats, including new technology used by terrorists.
Pakistan Ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has called upon the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take decisive action against terrorist organizations operating from Afghanistan, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Majeed Brigade. During the UNSC debate regarding the threats posed by Da’esh, he emphasized that these organizations not only jeopardize Afghanistan and Pakistan but also threaten regional and global stability, stating, “We must sincerely address the terrorist threats from Afghanistan.”
Ambassador Akram further stressed that the international community has neglected to tackle state terrorism, including the oppression of legitimate struggles for self-determination and foreign occupations. He highlighted the necessity for accountability concerning fundamental human rights violations, particularly regarding the struggles in Kashmir and Palestine, indicating that there must be efforts to uphold the right to self-determination in the face of state repression.
Opening the session, UN Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov acknowledged that Da’esh continues to pose a severe threat to global security, despite ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. He pointed out that no single nation can effectively combat terrorism in isolation, underscoring the need for a united response to this evolving threat that extends from the Middle East to Africa and beyond.
Ambassador Akram elaborated that while Al-Qaeda has been significantly weakened in Afghanistan, numerous offshoots have proliferated in regions such as North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. He indicated that Da’esh is also consolidating its presence in Afghanistan, which serves as a critical recruitment hub, and he rejected allegations of similar activities occurring in Pakistan.
Furthermore, the ambassador urged the necessity of addressing the underlying causes of terrorism, including poverty, injustice, foreign occupation, and the invasion of self-determination rights for affected populations, such as the people of Palestine and Kashmir. He articulated that merely reacting to the symptoms, rather than addressing the root causes, would yield limited success in counter-terrorism efforts.
Ambassador Akram also highlighted the pressing need for adjustments in the UN’s counter-terrorism framework and sanctions to effectively tackle current challenges. He called for more robust measures to confront emerging cybersecurity threats, including the use of digital platforms for radicalization, terror financing, and disinformation.
To comprehensively defeat terrorism, he emphasized addressing various forms of extremism, including violent acts by white supremacists and similar ideologies. He pointed out that current counter-terrorism strategies often singularly target Islam, which has led to an increase in Islamophobia and stigma against Muslims, stressing the need for a more balanced approach in formulating policies against terrorism.
Ambassador Munir Akram’s statements to the UN underscore Pakistan’s position on the urgent need to combat terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and the resultant regional implications. He advocates for both accountability regarding human rights abuses and a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism that addresses its root causes, rather than merely focusing on the symptoms. Moreover, he calls for international cooperation and a reevaluation of counter-terrorism frameworks to effectively combat emerging terrorist threats globally.
Original Source: dunyanews.tv
