Terror safe havens must be dismantled for enduring peace in Afghanistan: India gives strong message at UNSC

Though Tirumurti didn't name any country which provides safe havens and sanctuaries to terrorism, his reference was obviously to Pakistan which hosts terror camps and provides all kinds of support to Taliban and other terror groups active in the region.

Tirumurti, in a briefing after a closed door meeting on Afghanistan at the UN Security Council, said that it “needs to be ensured that Afghanistan’s neighbours and region aren't threatened by terrorism, separatism and extremism.”

“There needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It's equally important to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country,” Tirumurti said.

“Those providing material and financial support to terrorist entities must be held accountable. We, as the international community, must ensure that our commitments to Afghanistan, including to its various institutions, are maintained,” he added.

“On India’s part we will continue to stand with Afghanistan in ensuring that peace and stability is restored through a legitimate and transparent democratic process that is essential for the long-term stability of Afghanistan and the region.

“We will continue to provide all the support to Afghanistan in realizing their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future, free of terror where the rights and interests of all sections of the Afghan society are promoted and protected,” he added.

“As a neighbour of Afghanistan, the current situation prevailing in the country is of great concern to us. The rapid deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan constitutes a serious threat to regional peace and stability.

“It is time for the international community and, in particular, this Council to take stock of the situation, and decide on actions that would help to bring a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and ensure an immediate cessation of violence.

Durable peace in Afghanistan requires a genuine “doable peace”. That is, peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan, Tirumurti said.

“India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue. It is necessary to ensure that the Taliban engage in negotiations in good faith, eschew the path of violence, sever ties with the Al Qaeda and other terrorist organisations, and fully commit itself towards reaching a political solution.

“India wishes to see an independent, peaceful, sovereign, democratic, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Any political arrangement or settlement in Afghanistan must ensure that the gains of the last two decades are protected, and not reversed.”

"We support a leading role for the United Nations and call on the Secretary General to take an initiative towards finding a lasting and durable outcome.

“The only way forward are negotiations that will provide an acceptable compromise reflecting the Doha Process, the Moscow Format and the Istanbul Process,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Ghulam M. Isaczai, Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, while Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, and Shaharzad Akbar, Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, briefed the session.