Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Tuesday, March 19th, 2024

Afghanistan Must be Seen as Platform for Cordiality: CEO

Afghanistan Must be Seen as Platform for Cordiality: CEO

WASHINGTON - Afghanistan will never all allow its ties with one country to overshadow its relationship with others , CEO  Dr Abdullah Abdullah told the UN General Assembly on Monday.
“We have used every opportunity to make it clear through words and deeds that we will never allow our relations with any single country or group of countries to overshadow or adversely affect relations with other countries in the region or beyond.
“Afghanistan is to be seen as a strategic asset and a platform of cordiality for all,” Abdullah said. “We consider negative state rivalries and the use of violent proxy forces as counter-productive.
“There is no good or bad terrorist or violent extremist. We need to agree to fight all forms and shades of terror. We can and should no longer harbor or support one group while fighting another and claim to be fighting terrorism in all its dimensions,” he said.
In his address to the General Assembly’s special meeting on Afghanistan, the CEO said his country firmly believed a conditions-based approach and clear focus on resolving the problem of regional terrorist sanctuaries and support systems were core issues that would get it closer to peace and stability.
“They also form the cornerstone of our new National Security Strategy to defeat terrorism, work with nations that share our threat perception, and protect our people against politicized violence,” he added.
In recent months, he said, the Afghan security forces had effectively thwarted attempts by the Taliban, alongside the Haqqani network, as well as elements of A1-Qaida, Daesh and other terror groups from making notable gains, or capturing a major urban centre.
“We are not dealing with one, but several terror outfits, that either mirror each other under different labels or indirectly support overlapping agendas,” he observed.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi called the intensifying violence in Afghanistan and the growing presence of Daesh and a large number of other terrorist groups in ungoverned spaces cause for grave concern for the international community.
“These terrorist groups pose a clear and present danger for the long-term stability of Afghanistan as well as the entire region,” she said.
Lodhi noted the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan had not only imposed epic suffering on its people, it had also prevented the entire region from realising its immense economic potential. A peaceful and stable Afghanistan was essential for regional stability and economic progress, she remarked.
Deputy Permanent Representative of India Tanmaya Lal stressed an end to the support the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Daesh, AI- Oaeda and affiliates.“The special terrorist zones, safe havens and sanctuaries beyond Afghanistan's borders must end.”
Addressing terrorism needed a comprehensive, uncompromising and cohesive response from the international community, he said, adding Afghanistan's security and stability was tied to that of the entire region.
India, he said, continued to support the government and people of Afghanistan in realising a stable, secure, united, prosperous, democratic and pluralistic country.
“We deeply value the continuing sacrifice of the Afghan security forces not just for their own people, but also people of the region and the rest of the world,” he added.
Lal said the UN Security Council, while acting on the funds the terrorists in Afghanistan were generating through their illicit activities, could effectively utilise the 1988 sanctions regime to leverage for promoting peace.
“While the cowardliness and the frequency of terror attacks in Afghanistan have reached new heights and the terrorists continue to gain territory and resources of Afghan people, unfortunately, here in this body, we have witnessed little change,” he said.
“The Security Council is still debating whether or not to designate new leaders or to freeze the assets of the slain leader of Taliban. Even as this debate is going on, we find the new threats being posed by ISIS/Daesh in Afghanistan,” Lal concluded. (Pajhwok)