The United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) meeting commenced on Friday 6th August, with the Indian presidency taking charge officially. Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) was regretful to share that Pakistan being an immediate country to Afghanistan was not considered at the council meeting.
He emphasised that Pakistan had a direct stake with issues burgeoning in Afghanistan, so for that very fact, it was essential to involve the country and not exclude it from crucial discussions.
I must express my regret that Pakistan's request for participation in the UN Security Council meeting today was not accepted. This is most unfortunate, since Pakistan is a neighboring country of #Afghanistan, & has direct stakes in Afghanistan's peace & stability #UNPressBriefing pic.twitter.com/Vh5zkvvRL0
— Munir Akram, PR of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanPR_UN) August 6, 2021
Recently, Russia had announced the meeting on Afghan Peace to be held on 11th August and invited the ‘extended Troika’ which includes U.S, Pakistan, and China, but India was not on the invited list.
Now, Pakistan has been excluded from a key position at the UNSC meeting. Pakistan had made a formal request to speak on this occasion which was denied. Munir Akram emphasised that this violated UNSC rules and stated “Obviously, we do not expect fairness from the Indian presidency for Pakistan.”
The Afghan Permanent representative to the UN made statements during the open discussions that Pakistan must “dismantle Taliban infrastructure and pipelines.”
Read more: Afghans urging UNSC to sanction Pakistan?
Meanwhile, President UNSC Tirumurti said that “ For enduring peace in Afghanistan, terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries in the region must be dismantled immediately…It needs to be ensured that Afghanistan’s neighbours and the region are not threatened by terrorism, separatism, and extremism.”
Pakistan’s Envoy asserted that Pakistan was not involved in any such mechanism of exporting terrorism anywhere, instead, Pakistan is a target of terror outfits like Daesh and other militant factions, as evident from attacks in July on Chinese nationals, and all those who wish to ‘spoil’ the peace in Afghanistan; Pakistan has always supported the political solution to Afghanistan, as Akram states, “Pakistan believes that peace is still within the grasp of the Afghan people.
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They must not squander this opportunity.” He also added, “We strongly believe that any military takeover or imposition by force of a government in Afghanistan will further aggravate and prolong the country.” Pakistan strongly denied the Afghan and Indian led allegations about safe havens and cross-border facilitation of Taliban as “mere fantasies”, as the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is fenced and the military operations crushed all such activities in the region.
▪️We strongly deplore the false allegations being leveled against Pakistan from those who do not wish to see lasting peace in Afghanistan.
▪️Pakistan would never allow its soil to be used to destabilize #Afghanistan: Ambassador Munir Akram @PakistanPR_UN #UNMediaBriefing #UNSC pic.twitter.com/nLfliKpwGd— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) August 7, 2021
While Pakistan showed contempt for the UNSC’s disapproval of its request on joining discussions on Afghanistan, it however welcomed the UNSC’s concern on the recent July 14th attack in Pakistan as a serious spillover effect from instability in Afghanistan.
The UNSC ‘strongly condemned the brutal July 14th attack leading to the death of nine Chinese nationals and three Pakistanis. All members of the security council shared their good wishes for the injured citizens of both countries and expressed condolences for those who passed away.
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The UNSC released statements on the need to reaffirm measures against violent extremism, and that all entities linked with the fostering, financing and organizing of these terror links to be uprooted and held accountable. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s envoy said that Pakistan’s complete statement on the matter would be provided soon.