UNITED NATIONS, Sept 18: Highlighting the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, India has called on the global community to take a “fresh look” at the process of international military drawdown from the war-torn country.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asoke Mukerji said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has taken “brave steps” to launch a reconciliation process to bring peace to his country but these “efforts are being repeatedly rebuffed”
A spurt in violence in Afghanistan is taking place at a time when the country is in the midst of a “sensitive and historical political” transition, he said.
“Given the critical phase that the political transition has entered, and the deteriorating security situation, we feel there is a strong case for the international community to take a fresh look at the manner in which the drawdown of the international military presence in Afghanistan is happening.
“We would also urge the Council to look into ways to curb terrorist organisations and blocking the transfer of finances from the illegal narcotics trade,” Mukerji said at the Security Council debate on UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) here yesterday.
Mukerji stressed that there is much that needs to be done on the security front as he cited a report by the Secretary General that “substantiates our view” that terrorism and not tribal differences or ethnic rivalries is the main source of insecurity and instability in Afghanistan.
The report mentions that there is a significant increase in intra-insurgent violence between the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and its affiliates with the Taliban.
In addition, the Secretary General’s report states that the majority of alleged ISIL affiliated fighters “appear to be drawn from disaffected former members” of the Afghan Taliban, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or groups previously associated with Al Qaeda, such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
“This is indeed alarming and the Council must act against this threat with a sense of urgency,” he said.
The report further mentions that the deadly attacks in Kabul, which coincided with the emergence of a new Taliban leadership in early August, led Ghani to call for urgent action by Pakistan against the Taliban, in particular to prevent use of its territory to prepare Taliban operations, he added.
“India continues to support a truly Afghan-led and Afghan owned reconciliation process within the framework of the Afghan constitution and the internationally accepted red lines,” he said.
Mukerji assured that India “stands ready to do whatever is possible within our capacities and our means” to work with the Afghan Government, and its peoples, to realise the common vision of a strong, independent, united and prosperous state. (PTI)
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