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Mr. President,
We are considering the situation in Afghanistan on this day, the second
anniversary of the historic Bonn Agreement. Pakistan attaches great importance
to this Agreement which has set in motion a process for the rebuilding of
political institutions and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan.
Pakistan has worked closely with the international community in the
implementation of the Bonn Agreement.
2. Afghanistan has reached a crucial stage in the implementation of the Bonn
Process. The Constitutional Process is underway as well as preparations for
elections next year. While there has been progress in the political process,
reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan, these cannot be achieved in
the absence of security. It is the deteriorating security situation which
threatens stability not just in southern and south-eastern Afghanistan but
throughout the country; creates hurdles on Afghanistan’s path to recovery and
development, and above all seeks to undermine and derail the Bonn Process
itself.
3. Afghanistan’s worsening security situation has been comprehensively analyzed
in the report of the recent Security Council Mission to Afghanistan. As
identified in the report, the main factors contributing to deterioration in
Afghanistan’s security situation are: (a) the activities of the Taliban and
other extremists; (b) the arbitrary control exercised by local commanders and
warlords; and (c) the illicit drug production and trafficking. Among the key
concrete recommendations proposed in the report are (i) the withdrawal of all
factional forces from Kabul in accordance with the provisions of the Bonn
Agreement; (ii) reforms in Afghanistan’s security sector including in the Afghan
National Army, Police, Ministry of Defence and intelligence services; and (iii)
the initiation of a process of national reconciliation directed at all Afghans
willing to help rebuild the country irrespective of past events in order to
strengthen the central government and the basic institutions of the state. These
are the essential prerequisites for reversing the alarming security situation in
Afghanistan.
4. Pakistan welcomes the recent decision by NATO to expand the presence of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) outside Kabul. While this is, no
doubt, a step in the right direction, piecemeal and modest deployments, however,
will not create the necessary conditions for a secure environment in
Afghanistan. What is required is a rapid and massive expansion of ISAF and
deployment of its contingents throughout Afghanistan. This is the essential
requirement for providing stability throughout the country; to assist in the
extension of the central government’s authority and to ensure that a fair,
impartial and verifiable disarmament and demobilization of all of Afghanistan’s
warring factions takes place.
5. In addition to the above, there is also a need to tackle the serious drug
problem in Afghanistan which is both a symptom and cause of the instability in
that country. All the armed factions in Afghanistan – including the warlords and
the Taliban are taking advantage in the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs.
All of these are benefiting from this trade and it is in their interest to
perpetuate this also.
6. Pakistan recognizes the serious threat posed to Afghanistan’s security by the
resurgence of extremist forces – including the Taliban – in eastern and southern
Afghanistan. This is a symptom of a deeper problem which is directly linked to
Pashtoon alienation and the rising power of the warlords. The reality must be
recognized: one, not every angry Pashtoon qualifies as a Taliban, and two, there
is no warlord in Afghanistan who is serving anyone’s interest except his own.
The chaos, corruption and criminal activities being perpetuated again by major
and minor warlords in Afghanistan is recreating the situation which existed in
Afghanistan in 1992-1993. It was this chaos, corruption, and banditry which
generated popular support for the Taliban. In the absence of security, law and
order, people in villages and towns are once again turning to religious leaders
and extremists. Some of these elements are associated with the Taliban; others
are not.
7. For its own part, Pakistan will not allow any group or entity to use its soil
for acts of terrorism in Afghanistan. Given our role in the ouster of the
Taliban after the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, Pakistan would not like
to see their revival and return to power in Afghanistan. Pakistan is cooperating
with the United States and Afghanistan in strengthening security along our
Western borders through the Trilateral Commission. In its last meeting, held on
3 December, the three sides agreed to establish a sub-committee on exchanging
military information and coordination to develop a “common operational picture
of the terrorist threat in the border regions.” This would significantly enhance
the military capabilities of all three parties in the war against terrorism. The
joint communiqué issued after that meeting stated that “the meeting resulted in
a renewed mutual commitment of the three countries to increase strategic
cooperation to counter the terrorist threat.”
8. For the first time in its history, Pakistan has deployed 70,000 troops along
this 2,500 kilometre long border, which is difficult, porous and inhospitable.
In addition, we have taken proactive measures in the border areas, including the
formation and deployment of an elite rapid reaction force, greater intelligence
gathering, constructing a 30 kilometer fence in key areas along the border and
installing searchlights and flood lights in various places. Our troops have
orders to kill suspected Taliban and Al-Qaida infiltrators or exfiltrators on
sight. We are carrying out our anti-terrorism operations at great human,
material and political cost. We have thus far conducted over 150 such operations
and have captured over 500 Al-Qaida and Taliban elements. We have lost 25
soldiers and policemen in this process. No other country has achieved so many
successes against Al-Qaida and Taliban remnants, and with very few exceptions,
no other country has paid so high a price.
9. Rather than seeking to shift the blame for the growing insecurity, the time
has come to stop the blame-game and to address the real security threats which
remain inside Afghanistan. Serious decisions must be taken, starting with the
demilitarization of Kabul. There can be no successful disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration of all the armed factions as long it is
perceived that the capital remains under the control of some warlords and
factions in defiance of the Bonn Agreement.
10. Pakistan remains committed to its obligations under the Kabul Declaration on
Good Neighbourly Relations signed on 22nd December, last year. There is no
country which wants peace and stability in Afghanistan more than Pakistan, and
no country stands to suffer more from instability in Afghanistan than Pakistan.
Pakistan stands by its commitment to fight the terrorist threat in Afghanistan.
At the same time, let me affirm that Pakistan will not tolerate the use of
Afghan soil by third parties to carry out terrorist attacks against the
immediate neighbours of Afghanistan.
11. Earlier this year, President Musharraf told a visiting Afghan Minister that
“Pakistan would continue to strive for a peaceful and stable neighborhood with a
view to creating an environment for collective development and prosperity.” This
is our aim in Afghanistan and in the region. We, therefore, value the signing in
Doha of the Trade, Transit and Investment Declaration as a continuation of the
Kabul Declaration. Pakistan would also like to see a greater integration of
Afghanistan into regional economic cooperation structures. In this regard, we
strongly support the gas pipeline project connecting Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Turkmenistan. We also welcome all other initiatives aimed at economically
integrating Afghanistan with its neighbours.
12. At the Tokyo Conference, Pakistan pledged $100 million over a five years
towards Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts. Our assistance is being provided
in areas identified by the Afghan government and channeled through its
authority. In addition, we have extended further transit trade facilities to
Afghanistan, including the removal of several items from the negative list, the
simplification of customs procedures and the reduction of transportation cost
and freight charges by 25-30%. We have offered Afghanistan expanded facilities
at our new south-western port of Gwadar. In addition, Pakistan is seriously
considering ways to provide electricity to the southern and eastern parts of
Afghanistan, which has been requested to us by the Afghan government. Pakistan
is also exploring with the Afghan government, possibilities of private sector
cooperation, investment opportunities, particularly in the areas of cement,
pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.
13. In addition to assistance in relief and reconstruction, Pakistan has
provided arms, ammunition and equipment for the Afghan National Army (ANA),
training for the ANA and Afghan police. The first batch of Afghan diplomats
recently completed their training at our Foreign Service Academy. We are also
offering assistance in counter-narcotics and working with the Afghan authorities
to strengthen border controls. Pakistan will continue to offer its fullest
support to the Afghan Transitional Government in all of its efforts aimed at
peace, security, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. These are as
important for Pakistan as they are for Afghanistan.
14. Over the last two decades, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees,
largely without much appreciable assistance from the international community. We
are pleased with the voluntary repatriation of a number of these refugees.
However, we remain concerned over the slow down of the repatriation process
because of insecurity in Afghanistan as well as the lack of adequate economic
activity for the returnees. We hope that the international community would
target some of its recovery and reconstruction assistance to rural areas where
most of the refugees originate from. This would ensure that those who return
home will have a reason to remain there.
15. In addition, we hope that the millions of Afghan refugees who remain in
Pakistan and Iran will not be excluded from the historical constitutional and
election process in Afghanistan. We hope that these refugees who still account
for almost 10% of Afghanistan’s population will be accorded commensurate
representation in Afghanistan’s future parliament.
16. Finally, I wish to reiterate Pakistan’s full and unequivocal support for the
Bonn Process and President Hamid Karzai’s Government. Pakistan supports Mr.
Karzai’s efforts aimed at national reconciliation and reconstruction of his
country. There can be no doubt that a strong, stable and prosperous Afghanistan
is in the interest of Pakistan. Pakistan will spare no effort to achieve that
goal. We reaffirm our resolve to work with the international community to
promote peace, stability, reconstruction and economic development in
Afghanistan.
I thank you, Mr. President.