YouSaid · the spoken record

Munir

lines on the record: 97
first: 2015-06-18
most recent: 2018-12-06
sittings or episodes: 17
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“That would run the risk of causing the United Nations to become a party to the conflict and permanently damaging not only multilateralism, but also the very basis on which the success of peacekeeping is built, namely, neutrality and impartiality.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“Troop- contributing countries can provide valuable input, as they have experience in mandate implementation in the field. Fifthly, with regard to the performance of peacekeepers, reviews must take a holistic view, starting with mandate formulation, transparency in force generation and the integration of the various components of the mission, and not analyse performance merely using the unifocal lens of the contributions on the part of troop- and police-contributing countries. Lastly, we believe that any reform should steer clear of changing the nature of peacekeeping or diluting its basic principles. We must not fudge the distinction between peacekeeping and peace enforcement.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“The success ofpeacekeeping is due to the fact that, with national ownership, it creates space in conflict zones for locally generated political solutions. Let me make six specific points in that regard. First, we support the provision of predictable, sustainable and flexible funding for AU-led peace operations, as agreed in the Declaration of Shared Commitments under the Action for Peacekeeping initiative, especially those authorized by the Security Council itself. Secondly, sequenced, prioritized and adequately resourced Security Council mandates are a prerequisite for success. Thirdly, the Secretariat needs to play its part by highlighting the resource gaps, which the Security Council must then resolve. Fourthly, in the crafting of mandates, the safety and security ofpeacekeepers should be kept in mind.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“The active engagement of the international community and the consent of the host Government are essential throughout the peace continuum - from containing conflict to building peaceful, sustainable and inclusive societies. What better celebration of that is there than the success of Cote d'Ivoire transforming itself into a peaceful, vibrant and thriving State. Pakistan takes pride in contributing to that endeavour through its peacekeepers serving with professionalism, commitment and dedication in the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire. We also pay tribute to the 12 Pakistani peacekeepers who laid down their lives for that cause. As theatres of conflict through the world increase in complexity, peacekeeping remains the best tool at the disposal of the United Nations and a testament to its effectiveness.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“The repository of measures outlined in Chapter VI of the Charter provides a framework of action to place the pacific settlement of disputes at the centre of the global peace and security architecture. Chapter VIII then expands on that by synergizing the efforts of the United Nations and regional organizations. The reasons for that are obvious: more often than not, countries of a particular region are better equipped to understand the challenges faced by that region and respond to them. The existing cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) serves as a point of inflection. We welcome the joint declaration on partnership between the United Nations and the African Union today, which is being signed as we speak.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“Let me also begin by thanking you, Sir, for convening this important open debate. We also thank the Secretary-General, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the President of Commission of the Economic Community of West African States for their insightful briefings. In 1945, as the world emerged from the most destructive war in human history, it became apparent that, if succeeding generations were indeed to be saved from the scourge of war, the impulse of warmongering had to be subdued by the ideal of peacemaking. It is therefore no coincidence that the Charter of the United Nations places such a high premium on the pursuit of friendly relations among States, based on the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“Since the 1960s, Pakistan has contributed more than 200,000 troops to 43 missions and has lost 156 of its bravest in the pursuit of peace. We are fully committed to United Nations peacekeeping and are ready to engage in any process or discussion, from political strategy to operational issues, to help United Nations peacekeeping match the changing conflicts and threats.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Secondly, the inclusion of regional partners in political processes could be a force multiplier and should be used as such. Thirdly, investing in mediation is, of course, a sound investment. Without that, we risk making the whole exercise self-defeating. The Secretary-General's reform initiatives envisage changes within the Secretariat's reporting lines. We hope that these reforms will make the provision of logistical support to missions better and quicker. Reform should not just talk about the performance and mindsets of troop- and police-contributing countries; it should also include a rethink of the Secretariat"s performance in bringing out the true picture on the ground and, as the Secretary-General has said, of the Council's mindset in putting together achievable and realistic mandates.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“It is thejob of the Secretariat and the Council to clearly articulate specific tasks such as the protection of civilians in terms of expectations and the requisite resources and capabilities. If resources are shrinking, expectations will have to be adjusted accordingly. With regard to strategic coherence in the pursuit of political solutions, let me make three points. First, we have all talked about the primacy of politics and the need for a greater focus on political solutions. Peacekeeping missions, especially those with multidimensional mandates, are on the ground to facilitate post-conflict peacebuilding and help to make progress towards sustainable peace. The peacekeepers are not there to negotiate political solutions or enforce peace. They are there more as tools to support political processes.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“The Secretariat has the responsibility of providing pragmatic and realistic analysis of the situation on ground in terms of the political environment, resource gaps and possible exit strategies. The Council then has to reflect that information in its mandates. Rather than focusing merely on cutting costs and troop numbers, operations should dictate logistics, and not the other way around. I would like to point to a particular example relating to the vital task of the protection of civilians, which requires specific enablers and capacities. The recent pilot project on protection by projection in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo showed that it is extremely challenging to carry out protection-of- civilians tasks based only on a projected show of power.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Negotiations in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations this year were particularly focused on performance, and rightly. How else can we gauge success? However, performance cannot be evaluated solely in terms of what our troops on the ground do or do not accomplish. It also depends on resources, capabilities, intelligence and many such factors that troop-contributing countries (TCCs) do not control. The TCCs have never shied away from discussing performance, personnel, training and equipment. Performance policies, however, should be devised in consultation with the TCCs. The only conversation that can yield results is one that deals with performance in a holistic manner.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“I too would like to begin by congratulating you, Madam, and the Netherlands on a very successful presidency and for convening today's very important debate. We would also like to begin be welcoming the Action for Peacekeeping initiative announced by the Secretary-General earlier today. We are in broad agreement with its six priority areas. With the operating environment becoming ever more volatile, we are hearing increasing calls to update our tools for dealing with contemporary challenges, responding to current threats and doing our job better. We hope that our discussion today will provide valuable insights on all these issues. I would like to focus on two specific questions - peacekeeping as a shared responsibility and strategic coherence in the pursuit of political solutions.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“The National Assembly also approved a 2017 bill on a national commission on the rights of the child, which will work to promote, protect and monitor the rights of children. Pakistan supports the mandate of the Special Representative, which it believes cannot afford accretion. The legal parameters of the mandate, as provided for by the relevant Security Council resolutions, must be respected. In that context, my delegation wishes to state for the record that references to Pakistan in the Secretary-General's report are not within the purview of its established mandate. We hope that this principle will be kept in mind in future.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“It is therefore essential that the root causes of conflict be addressed and inclusive political solutions found. My Government remains fully alive to its commitment in that regard. Pakistan was one of the earliest signatories to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. In November 2016, Pakistan also ratified the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. We have established a national commission for child welfare and development, which coordinates, monitors and facilitates the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“In a number of situations, a shocking disregard for international law is in evidence and impunity prevails. Let me make three specific points in that regard. First, the strengthening of compliance and accountability mechanisms and their application to all parties, conflict States and non-State armed groups is essential to stopping violations of children's rights and preventing their recurrence. Secondly, the perpetrators of violence against children need to be identified and brought to justice through national judicial systems and, wherever applicable, international justice mechanisms. The establishment of appropriate legal frameworks with investigative and prosecutorial capacities remains central for that purpose. Above all, the goal of protecting lives is intrinsically linked with the goal of preventing conflict.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“Just yesterday, a UNICEF report warned that two thirds of unaccompanied refugees and migrant children in Greece were in need of proper care. Over the past two decades, the United Nations has taken a number of initiatives, including "Children, not soldiers" - a campaign that emphasizes priority activities, road maps, benchmarks, deadlines and review. Such efforts have contributed to the emergence of a global consensus that no circumstances justify the recruitment and use of children in conflict. Of course, that does not mean that our work is done. On the contrary, the plight and suffering of children in armed conflict remains an issue of deep concern. A multitude of prolonged and increasingly complex conflicts continue to have a devastating impact on children.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“We, too, begin by thanking the Secretary-General for his insightful remarks this morning. We also appreciated the focused briefings this morning of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Virginia Gamba, and Mr. Mubin Shaikh. We commend Ms. Gamba's efforts and determination to protect innocent children caught up in armed conflict. As highlighted in the Secretary-General's report (S/2017/821) and his briefing earlier this morning, children continue to be killed, maimed, abducted and subjected to sexual violence in conflict situations. Unfortunately, that disturbing trend shows no sign of abating. Denial of humanitarian access to refugees fleeing conflicts makes matters worse.”
2017-10-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8082 (2017) · source
“Pakistan was among the first batch of countries to sign the Secretary-General's voluntary compact on the subject. We have also contributed to the Trust Fund for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. In conclusion, let me recall that multidimensional peacekeeping missions with protection mandates play a key role in combating violence against women in conflict and post-conflict situations. As a leading troop-contributing country, Pakistan remains fully committed to that cause.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“Thirdly, national Governments bear the primary responsibility for women's safety and rights. The international community should support countries concerned in their efforts to safeguard women's rights and provide assistance in that regard. Strengthening the capacity of national institutions is critical to that endeavour and UN-Women can play a major role. Fourthly, gender perspectives should be fully integrated into the peacebuilding paradigm to reinforce the protection environment. That would entail not only the greater participation of women in peacekeeping mandates, but also an enhanced role of women in peace accords and in the stabilization and reconstruction phases of post- conflict rehabilitation. We fully support the Secretary-General's zero- tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“The landmark resolution 1325 (2000) both ushered in and institutionalized a new focus on women in conflict, moving their participation and rights to the front and centre of the political debate. Although challenges remain daunting and many new protection crises continue to emerge, our collective resolve to stamp out the scourge provides a reason for hope. In that regard, I would like to emphasize four specific points. First, the Security Council, as the primary body tasked with maintaining peace and security, should focus on the root causes of conflict to remove the ground where such crimes breed. Secondly, the United Nations should play its unique role in enhancing cooperation and coordination with the relevant bodies to help secure for women their rightful place at the table.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“What is worse is that the exploitation of women and girls is not an incidental by-product of conflict. It is an instrument widely employed to humiliate and terrorize civilians. According to the Secretary-General's report (S/2017/861), sexual violence continues to be employed as a tactic of war, with widespread and strategic rapes, including mass rapes, allegedly committed by several parties to armed conflicts. But to their credit, that has not held women back. Across the globe, they have been willing and able to share the burden of peacebuilding, peacemaking and conflict prevention. The Security Council and its global efforts to end that dehumanizing practice have played a part in their endeavour.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“We thank the French presidency of the Security Council for organizing today's very important meeting on realizing the promises of the women and peace and security agenda. We thank the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary- General, the Executive Director of UN-Women and the representatives of non-governmental organizations for their briefings this morning. The past couple of decades have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of conflicts. Situations of chronic instability, violence, armed conflict and wars continue to affect women and girls disproportionately. From sexual violence to sexual exploitation and abuse inflicted by terrorist organizations and parties to the conflict, women carry a disproportionate burden of physical and psychological trauma during conflicts.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“This can be achieved only when all sides are willing to make difficult choices. We hope that we are willing to take that test.”
2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011Reprise1 (2017) · source
“The fight against terrorism in the Middle East has been long-drawn and protracted. Wars and foreign occupations have compounded these challenges. The liberation of Mosul is an important milestone in Iraq's fight against Da'esh and its affiliates and, we are confident, towards an inclusive Iraqi State, recognizing and reconciling the interests of the Iraqi people. The intra-Syrian talks are central to the process of political reconciliation in that country. Successive rounds of talks have yet to deliver a major breakthrough, but the parties, major Powers and the international community in general must persist, for a military solution is neither achievable nor sustainable. Finally, what we need for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East is firm resolve, concerted action and, above all, justice and the rule of law.”
2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011Reprise1 (2017) · source
“Meanwhile, in its eleventh year, the suffocating Israeli blockade of Gaza is not only a humanitarian tragedy but also a moral outrage. The region can reap the dividends of peace only if such peace is predicated on the foundation of justice, an imperative that demands an end to illegal Israeli occupation and the realization of the legitimate Palestinian aspiration to statehood. A just solution for Palestine is not just a matter ofregional significance; it is a primary precondition for global peace and security. We are also concerned that the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) are facing serious resource constraints, hindering the commendable work that UNRWA is doing for Palestinian refugees.”
2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011Reprise1 (2017) · source
“A viable, independent and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of the internationally agreed parameters and the pre-l967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, is the only sustainable guarantee of enduring peace in the Middle East. There is nothing more inimical to this vision than the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Yet there has been a substantial increase in settlement-related activities in the occupied lands. This trend is emblematic of the blatant Israeli disregard for international law and the collective will of the international community, including resolution 2334 (2016). It is also a setback for peace and a retreat from the two-State solution to a one-State illusion.”
2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011Reprise1 (2017) · source
“The escalating tensions and violent clashes that have taken place in and around the Old City of Jerusalem during the past few days are a reminder of the fact that we are sitting on a tinderbox. As the Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, has rightly noted, the fallout from events taking place over a few hundred square metres affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. These people have only one demand: that the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the status of Jerusalem be respected. While the Security Council has taken cognizance of the gravity of the situation, words must be complemented by concrete actions. Israel must not only take immediate steps to defuse the situation, but also desist from taking any provocative measures in future.”
2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011Reprise1 (2017) · source
“We thank the Chinese presidency for having organized this open debate. Every time we meet here to discuss the situation in the Middle East, we are constrained to lament it further. The spiralling violence, the looming humanitarian catastrophe, the untold pain and human suffering are surely not sustainable. And nothing epitomizes this better than the plight of the Palestinian people, who, for the past 70 years, have suffered dispossession, displacement and deprivation at the hands of the occupation forces. On the fiftieth anniversary of the illegal occupation of their homeland, it is unfortunate that the aspirations of the Palestinians to live a life of freedom and dignity remain a distant and elusive ideal.”
2017-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8011Reprise1 (2017) · source
“In a spirit of solidarity with our Yemeni brothers and sisters, my country has already contributed $1 million of wheat in order to address immediate needs. Pakistan lends its support to all diplomatic efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East. We are confident that well-intentioned efforts on the part of the international community will restore the cradle of civilization to its rightful place as the beating heart of humankind.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“Those who seek military ends threaten to extinguish any such hope. In Iraq, as Iraqi forces consolidate their gains against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and its affiliates, we are confident that the foundations of a strong Iraqi State will be laid on the basis of an inclusive vision that recognizes and reconciles the interests of all Iraqi people. With 7 million people facing the threat of famine, the conflict in Yemen has become a humanitarian catastrophe. A massive humanitarian response must complement the political process. The forthcoming High-level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, to be held in Geneva on 25 April, will provide an ideal opportunity to recalibrate our commitments and ensure that they are commensurate with the needs of the Yemeni people.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“Such inhumane acts must end. Human suffering cannot be mortgaged to political ends. It is our firm conviction that a viable, independent and contiguous State of Palestine, on the basis of internationally agreed parameters, with the borders of 1967, and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, is the only sustainable guarantee for enduring peace in the Middle East. It is the strength of peace and not the threat of force that offers the best hope for arresting the rising tide of extremism in the region. The seething fires of conflict in Syria rage with unspeakable fury. The scale of human suffering in Syria cannot be quantified in mere statistics. The road to peace in Syria is through an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-driven process of political reconciliation. That road must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“In adopting resolution 2334 (2016), the Security Council sent an unequivocal signal to Israel that the settlements in occupied Palestinian territory have no legal validity and remain the major stumbling block to achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Unfortunately, that resolution has been disparaged by some as representative of the old bias on the part of the United Nations against Israel. We have heard that familiar refrain all too often. However, it cannot absolve Israel from its international obligations. The Israeli decision to construct new settlements in the West Bank is yet another dangerous provocation. The so-called legalization bill aims to provide a veneer of legality to an act that is internationally recognized as illegal. Meanwhile, the blockade of the Gaza strip continues in its tenth year.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“We thank Special Representative Nickolay Mladenov for his briefing. As the Special Representative said earlier, the prospects for peace in the Middle East remain grim. Central to that sobering assessment is the plight of the Palestinian people, who, for the past 70 years, have suffered dispossession, displacement and deprivation at the hands of the Israeli occupation. Israel continues to defy the international consensus with impunity, while persisting with its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory. The settlement of the Palestinian issue is central to lasting peace and stability in the Middle East - not its incidental by-product - and the illegal Israeli settlements lie at the heart of the matter.”
2017-04-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7929 (2017) · source
“In Islamabad we jointly recommitted to transforming the region into a zone of peace and collective prosperity, and to facing regional challenges, including terrorism and drug-trafficking, together. One Belt, One Road is an example of other such initiatives that can have positive effects on promoting development and prosperity, and therefore peace, in the region. Pakistan remains committed to those ideals, and we hope that our partners will share in them with the same zeal. We can make the region a centre of peace, progress and prosperity, but we can only do it together.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“We engaged sincerely in the Quadrilateral Coordination Group, which as a mechanism can still be utilized, but we should remembered who sabotaged this process not once but twice. Therefore, if one wants to blame someone for not being sincere, it is definitely not us. Pakistan remains fully committed to voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees. Today, as countries close their borders to refugees, the international community, and in particular Afghanistan itself, should be able to fathom the depths of our generosity in hosting more than 3 million Afghan refugees for almost 40 years. Last week in Islamabad, Pakistan hosted the thirteenth Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization in a reiteration of our commitment to a peaceful neighbourhood.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“We were forced to close our border temporarily to secure our territory from the terrorists who reorganized in Afghanistan and launched terrorism against us. Yet, on purely humanitarian grounds, we reopened the border temporarily, risking our own security to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people. There are multiple factors, both military and non-military, that have contributed to the existing stalemate in Afghanistan. Singling out Pakistan and pinning the blame on it for everything that goes wrong in Afghanistan is neither fair nor accurate. Pakistan has consistently called for a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan, but such a settlement remains the responsibility of the parties to the conflict. There has been strong international consensus supporting this solution.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“But instead of blaming Afghanistan, Pakistan invited Afghanistan time and again to talk about border management. We proposed a number of border standard operating procedures two years ago. They are still awaiting finalization. Afghanistan's only response thus far has been sheer indifference and in some cases facilitation of the continued use of Afghan territory for launching attacks in Pakistan, killing and maming hundreds of innocent civilians, including women and children. Yet we prefered restraint over escalation, cooperation over confrontation and dialogue over conflict. And we have been exercising maximum restraint in the face of provocations by terrorists from across the Pakistan border.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“Peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan's own vital interest. It is one of my Government's top priorities, but we wonder if this aspiration is shared by some of our regional partners. Pakistan has paid a staggering human and financial cost for the conflict in Afghanistan, yet the resilience of our proud people and the remarkable success of our military and law-enforcement measures have successfully broken the back of terrorist outfits. It was only possible due to indiscriminate targeting of all terrorist groups. But instead of cooperation and appreciation and applying a similar squeeze on its side of the border, we have heard complaints that our strong action was pushing terrorists into Afghanistan. The fact is that terrorists found safe haven in Aghanistan because of conducive conditions and weak border management.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“The report observes that there has been no significant improvement in the political, security or economic situation in Afghanistan; attacks by insurgent groups have intensified; economic opportunity remains absent; the reconciliation process has stalled; and the confluence of these factors has magnified the suffering of the people of Afghanistan and threatens regional peace and security. It is indeed threatening the peace and security of my own country. Shifting the blame to my country will not help the Afghan Government shroud its own failures. It is Afghanistan that has failed to end its wars and internal strife and, as a result, has undermined the security of the entire region. This forum should not be misused for gratuitous sermons; it should be utilized for problem- solving and finding solutions.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“We also thank the Secretary- General for his report (S/2017/189), and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Yamamoto and Ms. Samar for their briefings this morning. We reject the baseless allegations made against us by Afghanistan's representative this morning. His Government would do better to deal with its vast challenges than to externalize internal problems. The Government of Afghanistan [NOTE: speaker said "Pakistan" but appears to have meant "Afghanistan" has consumed hundreds of billions of dollars of international assistance, and what it has to show for it is reflected in the Secretary-General's report.”
2017-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7896 (2017) · source
“We are working on plans to extend their stay in Pakistan until 31 December 2017, and to ensure that their voluntary return is smooth and orderly. International support and the creation of pull factors in Afghanistan continue to be critical. The people of Pakistan and the people of Afghanistan enjoy age-old bonds not only of kinship, faith and shared history but also of a shared destiny. We rejoice in their accomplishments and are saddened by their suffering. We are ready to support them in every way, and we are with our Afghan brothers and sisters in their struggle for a better future that can bring prosperity, health, education and, above all, peace and stability to the whole region.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“Despite the negative rhetoric, Pakistan has remained committed to facilitating the transit of goods to landlocked Afghanistan through its territory. We believe that the two sides must work together in order to extend and improve the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. In that context, I would like to re-emphasize that the peaceful resolution of outstanding disputes will further enhance the prospects for regional cooperation and connectivity. For almost four decades, we have hosted millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. We remain committed to helping them return to their homeland with honour and dignity. We are fully engaged in that regard with Afghanistan and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The Afghan parties have to conclude that military means cannot bring peace and that reconciliation is the only way to achieve lasting stability. All our efforts must be directed towards achieving a politically negotiated settlement through an Afghan-led and -owned peace process. We believe that all the members of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group must redouble their efforts to reach that goal. Efforts that undermine peace and reconciliation must be avoided. Implementing the agreed-on approaches faithfully, and maintaining trust among the partners, continue to be fundamental to furthering peace and reconciliation. The Afghan Government has signed a peace agreement with the Hizb-i Islami, and its implementation could serve as a model for talks with other groups.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“Terrorist sanctuaries have in fact shifted to Afghanistan, owing to our successful counter-terrorism operation Zarb-e-Azb, the results of which have been widely acknowledged by the international community. Nevertheless, as Pakistan has always stressed, robust border management is critical to countering cross- border movement. We do not understand the logic behind resistance to operationalizing that much-needed mechanism. It is somewhat disingenuous to propose a regional mechanism when Kabul is unwilling even to work bilaterally with us on the issue. The peace and reconciliation process has yet to produce results, and we understand Afghan frustration about that. But it is not due to lack ofeffort on our part. We have continued to persist sincerely and wholeheartedly, but we can only facilitate.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The Afghan National Defence and Security Forces have bravely tried to stand their ground, but the security situation continues to deteriorate. The presence oflarge numbers of terrorist, violent and extremist groups and organizations in the ungoverned areas of the country are a continued challenge to the long-term stability of Afghanistan and its neighbours. The security situation in Afghanistan is complex. The drivers of the recent surge in violence lie within Afghanistan, not outside it. We need to objectively evaluate the efforts to address the deteriorating security situation. I reiterate Pakistan's firm commitment to fighting terrorism and eliminating every kind of terrorist network. We reject the unsubstantiated assertion that the Taliban reorganized in Pakistan during the winter.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“In Brussels, we collectively renewed our commitment to supporting Afghanistan in its efforts to achieve security and economic development over the next decade and a half. Pakistan will continue to support regional and international efforts in that regard. The $500 million commitment we made in Brussels was an expression of our firm resolve never to abandon Afghanistan. Our participation in the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference in Amritsar, despite the problems of escalation on the line of control and the working boundary, testified to our unflinching commitment to lasting peace in Afghanistan and the region. While external support is critical, it is no substitute for internal political stability. The Afghan Government's successful implementation of reforms and active promotion of peace and reconciliation depend upon it.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“I would like to begin by offering our heartfelt condolences to the Russian delegation in connection with the shooting of the Ambassador in Ankara. We thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2016/1049) and Special Representative Yamamoto for his briefing. We appreciate the resolve of the Afghan leaders to work together to address their differences in a spirit of cooperation. We agree with the Secretary-General that a united Afghan Government is imperative if the country is to effectively address its multiple challenges. Afghanistan's continuing political volatility, coupled with the uncertain security and economic situation, remains a cause of concern for the international community.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The grant of waivers to long-standing non-proliferation regimes and rules carries obvious proliferation risks and undermines regional strategic stability. It is therefore critical that an equitable, non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach to promoting civil nuclear cooperation and membership in export controls regimes, in particular that of the NSG, be adopted.”
2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source
“We have effectively participated in and contributed to the Nuclear Security Summit process. Our ratification of the 2005 amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and our adherence to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) guidelines are among the recent steps that we have taken. Pakistan has been an active partner of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism since its inception, in 2007, and has contributed to the development of its guidelines. We declared a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing and offered to translate that into a bilateral arrangement on non-testing with India. Those credentials clearly establish Pakistan's eligibility to become a member ofthe NSG.”
2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source
“Let me underscore Pakistan's commitment to its non-proliferation obligations, including the steps taken for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). Pakistan has submitted four national implementation reports under the resolution. Our fifth report on its implementation will be submitted shortly, and, next February, we will organize a seminar on promoting better implementation of the resolution at the regional level. Pakistan has elaborated and implemented a comprehensive export-control regime that is fully harmonized with those of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Australia Group. We have also declared voluntary adherence to NSG guidelines. Pakistan is participating in the IAEA Incident and Trafficking Database.”
2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source