Pakistan has reaffirmed its support for the Afghan-led peace process but emphasised that efforts in this regard need to be sustained and based on solid commitments and tangible steps by all statkeholders.
"We have always highlighted the value of dialogue and reconciliation to address the question of Afghan security and to change the underlying dynamics of conflict in Afghanistan," Pakistan's Permanent Representative told the UN Security Council.
Ambassador Masood Khan added that the Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process is an essence of such a dialogue. "It rightly seeks to address the root causes of insecurity and tackles the fundamental nature of conflict in Afghanistan," he stated, taking part in the debate on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Pakistan supports an Afghan-led peace process, he reiterated. He told the 15-member body that Islamabad fully backs efforts of the Afghan High Peace Council under the able leadership of Salahuddin Rabbani.
His recent visit to Islamabad was productive and successful. "Pakistan will continue to contribute to the peace process. Efforts, in this regard should be sustained; and based on solid commitments and tangible steps by all stakeholders. We hope that the unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 2082 (2012) will energise the peace process".
Continuing, Ambassador Khan stressed sustainability of our efforts could be ensured if all stakeholders share the goals of reconciliation. Besides, Afghanistan's international partners have a crucial role in facilitating convergences and reducing divergences. On the United Nation's future role in Afghanistan, Ambassador Khan said that it was going to be very important, especially in the wake of the drawdown and withdrawal of international forces in 2014.
"We urge continued engagement of the UN in five critical areas: support to government institutions, facilitation of the peace and reconciliation process, counter-narcotics, return and rehabilitation of refugees and co-ordination of humanitarian aid, particularly food aid.
The permanent representative urged the need for continued economic support for Afghanistan. Pakistan's bilateral relations with Afghanistan are driven by a sense of shared destiny and the documented bilateral trade has reached US $2.5 billion and the target set by our leadership to double it by 2015 is well within reach. Our bilateral assistance to Afghanistan is the highest we have with any other country.He cited a recent trilateral meeting President Asif Ali Zardari had with his Afghan and Turkish counterparts as part of efforts towards peace.
In the area of security, the Pakistani envoy underscored that Pakistan has always sought closer engagement with Afghanistan and its international partners on real issues, which lie beyond polemics. Interdiction of illegal cross border movement is vital to counter-terrorism, drug trafficking and commercial smuggling. This is a joint responsibility, which needs to be discharged more vigorously. Pakistan has established over 1000 posts along the border with Afghanistan. More than 140,000 Pakistani troops are deployed on our side of the border at considerable financial cost. This needs to be matched on the other side of the international border.
Our ongoing intelligence and military cooperation with Afghan and international counterparts is growing. The Tripartite Commission, which includes representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is a viable mechanism of such cooperation.
The envoy pointed out that humanitarian funding shortfall in Afghanistan - of 50%, from US $900 million in 2011 to US $484 million this year- is worrisome for that country and its immediate neighbours. We urge the donor community to meet these shortfalls and limit the impact on the most vulnerable segments of the population. By hosting more than three million Afghan refugees, Pakistan is easing the humanitarian burden on Afghanistan at considerable economic and social cost to itself, he added.
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