'Pakistan committed to bar militants'
Reaffirming its commitment to eliminate terrorism, Pakistan told the
UN General Assembly Tuesday that militants and terrorists will not be
allowed any space on the Pakistani territory. "Pakistan has the will. We
do not fear adversity," Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said in the
course of a wide-ranging speech that focused on the war on terrorism.
"It is Pakistan's firm determination not to allow any space on its
territory for militants and terrorists," she said in her maiden speech
at world stage.
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Foreign Minister of Pakistan Hina
Rabbani Khar addressing the UN |
"At the regional plane, we must all pledge that our respective
territories will not be allowed to be used against others by
terrorists." "We must demonstrate complete unity in ranks, avoid any
recrimination, build greater trust and more importantly bring about the
requisite operational coordination in combating this menace," Khar said
in an apparent reference to accusations by US officials about Pakistan
lacking commitment to go after terrorists. "Otherwise, only the
terrorists will gain." In her speech, noted for its depth and sweep, the
foreign minister also spoke about the resumption of Indo-Pakistan
dialogue process, hoping that it will be uninterrupted and
uninterruptible. "We certainly intend to make this engagement fruitful
and premise it on the promise of a mutually rewarding enterprise that
would enable us to optimally avail the complementarities that exist,"
Khar said. "We look forward to resolving all outstanding issues
including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which is among the oldest on
the agenda of the United Nations and the subject of several Security
Council resolutions.A peaceful resolution that accords fully with the
aspirations of the Kashmiris, is a sine qua non for durable stability.
As is the need for safeguarding of their fundamental human rights."
"The reality of a nuclearised South Asia, imposes on both Pakistan
and India, the onerous responsibility to work together for creating
mutual confidence, avoiding an arms race, and enhancing strategic
stability. We look forward to moving in this direction in the dialogue
process dealing with Pakistan efforts to combat terrorism." The foreign
minister called for international cooperation to totally obliterate the
menace in all its forms and manifestations. "We are keenly aware about
the threat terrorism poses to Pakistan, to Pakistan neighbours, or to
the rest of the world," she said. "Over 30,000 innocent Pakistanis have
been killed including men, women and children.
"The ever valiant Pakistani armed forces have defended Pakistan, and
the rest of the world at the highest cost. Our troops have laid down
6,532 shuhada, or martyrs. 19,190 of our strongest, bravest and most
honour-worthy boys have suffered injuries. And it does not stop there.
"We have seen 3,629 of our police and paramilitary personnel embrace
shahadat, or martyrdom. 10,720 of these men and women of the Police and
paramilitary services have been injured, since 2002.
The grieving mothers, daughters, sisters and wives of these brave men
and women are a constant reminder of our need to be vigilant and to
fight the menace of terrorism."
"If I began recounting Pakistan's sacrifices and Pakistan's
suffering, I would keep you here till next September,: she said,
recounting the sufferings the people of Pakistan resulting from
terrorist attacks. "We do not take terrorism lightly. We cannot. We have
suffered far too much".
"Our nation is united in its determination to eliminate the spectre
of terrorism from our soil, from our region and the world. It is
important to enhance international cooperation to totally obliterate
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."
She cited the arrest of Yousuf Al Mauritani, the Chief Operative of
Al-Qaeda, in a joint ISI and CIA operation among the successes of the
drive to curb terrorism. "Eliminating terrorism is in our national
interest. We believe that our success is critical to regional and global
peace and security. APP
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