Call for global efforts to combat terrorism
Pakistan has called for advance endeavours to face the challenge of terrorism.
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan Tuesday called for defeating the "hydra-headed monster" of terrorism through a comprehensive approach that gives a push to efforts aimed at resolving long-festering conflicts and crises spawning extremism.
"We should address the root causes of terrorism", Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told the UN Security Council. Pakistan holds the presidency of the 15-member Council, the UN s most powerful body, for the month of January, said Khar.
In a speech at the start of a ministerial-level debate on counter-terrorism, she said Pakistan took the initiative to select this "difficult" subject because the threat was evolving and needed corresponding steps to deal with it.
"Pakistan’s initiative for this debate is rooted in our shared objective of global peace, security, stability and development," the foreign minister told high-level delegates sitting around the Council s horse-shoe table.
"As a threat to international peace and security, terrorism has a direct bearing on all of our countries and regions; as well as on individuals and societies. The last decade has shown that terrorism knows no geographical boundaries".
Ms Khar said one lesson learnt during the past 10 years was that a lopsided or uni-dimensional approach will not work to defeat "this hydra-headed monster of terrorism", which also has tentacles around the world.
"This is truly a global threat. Our strategies and responses must also be global," the foreign minister said.
"What we are looking for is a comprehensive and interlocking approach which is much more effective than our present effort and which is geared towards not only winning the battles but the war," she said.
"In the past decade, we have collaborated, as international community, to impede, impair, isolate and incapacitate the terrorist threat," Ms. Khar stated. "We must attack and dismantle terrorist networks because they defy the writ of the State and kill civilians. And we must persevere in our efforts to deter and defeat terrorists militarily.
"And yet our success is - at best - only been partial," she pointed out.
"It is conventional wisdom and a compelling reality that terrorism will not be defeated alone by law enforcement measures, or intelligence operations or military and security strategies.
"For sustainable solutions, we need to intensify our efforts to resolve long festering conflicts and crises that spawn extremism," the foreign minister added.
"Terrorists’ misleading, distorted and malicious narrative, and their demented ideology that justifies killing of innocent people must be quashed by the international community, by the UN Security Council," Ms. Khar said. "It is our responsibility to counter terrorists’ propaganda; Our stories about human dignity and values should be louder than their criminal saga.
"We must move in concert to decrease the ideological space in which terrorists operate."
Development and security are interrelated, the foreign minister said. Development helped meet basic human needs, build community resilience, and prevent terrorism. Job creation for youth and their participation in socio-economic development,created an enabling environment for the success of counter-terrorism policies.
In Pakistan, she said nothing worked better as an effort by the international community in this regard than allowing preferential market access to products produced within the region wracked by terrorism.
Underscoring the need for dialogue, Ms Khar said, "All those who have chosen the path of terrorism but are willing to renounce violence should be brought back to national and societal mainstreams.
"Reconciliation must be promoted. Fissures must be bridged.
"We also have to foster a culture of promotion of the rule of law, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and prevalence of good governance and tolerance."
The foreign minister said, "Terrorism and extremism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, race, region, value system, or society. Attributing encouragement, incitement or inspiration of terrorist acts to any religious tradition or doctrine is unacceptable. An honest dialogue between different religions and civilizations is, therefore, a continuing political imperative."
Ms. Khar also underscored the need for regional cooperation. "Pakistan and Afghanistan have taken steps towards a strategic relationship to jointly fight terrorism. This is a multi-pronged approach to counter terrorism. We are supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-driven reconciliation process; and efforts aimed at creating a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. We believe that peace and stability in Afghanistan will have a direct salutary impact on Pakistan."
As a victim of terrorism, she said, Pakistan’s comprehensive approach to counter terrorism was based on Three D’s: deterrence, development and dialogue. The entire nation, the government, the Parliament, the judiciary and the civil society were determined to fight terrorism and extremism.
"Under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, we have pursued a multifaceted policy to deal with the threat of terrorism in a holistic and sustainable manner."
Referring to the sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan in fighting terrorism, the foreign minister said, "Much of the success in global fight against terrorism has been made possible with Pakistan’s support and active cooperation. This success has come with a heavy cost for Pakistan and our people.
"The valiant Pakistani armed forces and law enforcement officials have defended Pakistan, and the rest of the world, against the terrorist threat at great cost. Some 150,000 troops are deployed on the Pak-Afghan border to detect and degrade these ubiquitous terrorists who are enemies of our people. Seven thousand brave Pakistani soldiers and policemen and over 37,000 innocent civilians, including women and children, have fallen victim to the blight of terrorism. Thousands have been injured and disabled.
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa leader and senior Minister Bashir Bilour were among the victims of terrorists and Malala Yousafzai could not escape the bullet of a terrorist. "She survived and we hope her life will be a testimony of the resilience of the Pakistani people."
The UN secretary general, Ban ki-Moon on the occasion commended the sacrifices and efforts of Pakistan is countering terrorism. He also expressed heartfelt condolences and support of UN for recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
"We reaffirm our commitment to eradicating terrorism and maintaining rule of law", Ban ki-Moon said adding that nothing could justify terrorism and there was a need to remove conditions which help spread terrorism.
"I am deeply moved by Malala s bravery and will to seek and spread education", the UN chief said and maintained that Malala and other girls of her school had shown how a multi-dimensional counterterrorism approach was needed.
The British Minister, Baroness Saeeda Warsi spoke on the occasion as well. She hailed Pakistan s sacrifices in the war against terror as more than any other country. She assured Pakistan and the UN of Britain s full commitment and support in this fight.
Other member countries of the UN security council also spoke. They agreed with the need to make counter-terrorism efforts more pro-active and offered full support for Pakistan s initiative under the banner of the UN.
- Contributed by Awais Saleem, Dunya News correspondent in New York
