The United Nations flag flies at half-mast at the European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, November 13, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK:
The United States has reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s right to defend itself against terrorism as Islamabad stepped up its diplomatic campaign at the United Nations, highlighting the country’s heavy human and economic toll from terrorism and calling for a stronger global counterterrorism strategy.
Responding to questions about continuing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the US State Department said Washington “supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks”, adding that “the Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists”.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities of harboring terrorists responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, particularly members of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as well as groups involved in Balochistan, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade.
The remarks came as the UN General Assembly adopted a Pakistan-backed resolution on the ninth review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) by a large majority after the US, Israel and Argentina broke consensus on the document.
The resolution, entitled ‘The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Ninth Review’, upholds the framework’s four fundamental pillars and urges member states to finalize a comprehensive convention aimed at closing critical loopholes in existing international law and establishing a universally binding legal framework.
The resolution was adopted by a recorded vote of 140 in favor and three against – Argentina, Israel and the United States – while Japan did not participate in the vote. Japan’s delegate later said the abstention was due to a technical error and that his delegation had intended to vote in favour.
Addressing the plenary, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, welcomed the adoption of the resolution and expressed hope that it would strengthen the global fight against terrorism through stronger multilateral cooperation.
“Pakistan has remained at the forefront of the global fight against terrorism, having played a crucial role in its success over the years, especially against Al Qaeda and other groups, and in the process we have also made huge sacrifices as a primary victim of terrorism,” he said.
The ambassador told the General Assembly that terrorism against Pakistan was “supported, sponsored by our adversaries in the region through their support for proxy groups such as TTP, BLA, Majeed Brigade, as well as other groups including ISIL-K and their affiliates”.
He said more than 1,200 Pakistanis lost their lives in terrorist attacks last year alone, adding that terrorism transcends national borders and has evolved into an increasingly interconnected and decentralized global threat that requires a multifaceted international response.
Ambassador Ahmad expressed disappointment that the recent review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy had failed to address emerging challenges despite efforts by Pakistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strengthen the document.
“For a future free of terrorism, a robust multilateral strategy is needed,” he said, calling for a comprehensive assessment of emerging threats in both the physical and virtual domains and realistic ways to resolve long-standing conflicts.
He also called on the international community to affirm the right to self-determination in accordance with international law, reject attempts to equate legitimate struggles for self-determination with terrorism, and condemn states that are complicit in state terrorism against peoples living under foreign occupation.
The envoy further called for measures to combat xenophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance, address the growing threat of violent nationalist, far-right, neo-fascist and supremacist groups, eliminate Islamophobic narratives and expressions such as “Islamic terrorism” and “radical Islam”, and end the stigmatization of Muslim individuals.
He also urged reforms to the UN counter-terrorism architecture and sanctions regime, urging international bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to remain inclusive, transparent and free from political manipulation.
He said the failure to reach consensus after three years of negotiations represented a missed opportunity but should serve as a wake-up call for stronger international cooperation, adding that Pakistan remains committed to working with all UN member states to strengthen global efforts against terrorism.
