General Assembly Security Council

 Statement by Ambassador Bhagwant S. Bishnoi, Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations at the Security Council Debate on United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) on December 21, 2015

 

 
Madam President, 
 
         Thank you for giving me the floor in today's open debate on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan [UNAMA]. We thank the Secretary General for his report on the situation in Afghanistan, and SRSG Nicholas Haysom and Ambassador Mahmoud Saikal for their briefings. 
 
2       We are happy that Afghanistan's historic political transition remains on course.  India is proud to call itself Afghanistan's first strategic partner, and stands ready to do whatever is within its capacity and means to work with the Afghan Government and its people, to realize our common ambition.  We share the Afghan people's desire for strong, independent, united and prosperous Afghanistan.India will continue to support a truly Afghan-led and Afghan owned reconciliation process within the framework of the Afghan constitution and the internationally accepted red lines.
 
3.        During the recently held 'Heart of Asia' Ministerial meeting in Islamabad on 9 December, our Hon'ble External Affairs Minister said that, 'democracy is taking roots in Afghanistan and we acknowledge the role of President Ghani and CEO Dr. Abdullah in building on the strong foundation created by former President Karzai to ensure peaceful, democratic and inclusive governance for the whole of Afghanistan'.  We would like to inform the Council that India would be hosting the sixth Ministerial of the Heart of Asia Istanbul Process in 2016.
 
4. Our main concern remains that of the security situation in Afghanistan.  The latest UN Secretary-General's report substantiates our view that it is terrorism, which is the main source of insecurity and instability in Afghanistan.  What is alarming is the revelation in recent reports, including the UNSG's report, regarding the presence of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) affiliated groups, particularly in Nangarhar Province. The deteriorating security situation is reflected in the UNSG's report which states that there were 3,693 civilian casualties (1,138 killed and 2,555 injured) in the reporting period, reflecting an increase of 26 per cent from the same period in 2014. We strongly condemn the dastardly terrorist attacks on the Kandahar airport and the Spanish Embassy in Kabul on 8thand 11thDecember respectively as well as the attack outside Bagram air base today. .This is indeed alarming and the Council must act against this threat with a sense of urgency.
 
5. With the increasing spurt of terrorist attacks in different parts of the world and its ongoing activity in Afghanistan, my delegation would sincerely expect that the Security Council, which has passed several resolutions to counter terrorism that are binding on all member states, looks at ways to paralyse the these terrorist organizations.  The first step the Council should undertake is to strengthen the Council's 1267 and 1989 Sanctions Regime structure, in order to effectively impose and implement the restrictions placed on the listed terrorist organizations, so as to deny them sanctuaries and safe haven. We salute the Afghan National Security Forces and the Afghan people for countering the forces of terrorism and extremism with courage and resilience. They need the continued support of the international community to defend Afghanistan's unity and security. For its part, India is ready to work with Afghanistan to strengthen its defensive capability. India has always maintained that any such peace talks have to be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and should only be with those Taliban sympathizers who are willing to accept and work within the Constitution of Afghanistan. Talks without perceptible reduction in violence by the Taliban will not eliminate risks and threats to peace and reconciliation. 
 
6.     Afghanistan will be able to achieve its optimal economic potential only if it is allowed freedom of transit to major markets in South Asia. We have also formally indicated our willingness to join the Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement. India is also working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit. Participation in development of the Chahbahar Port will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond.  India's engagement in the Trade, Commerce and Investment (TCI) CBM within the Heart of Asia process as the lead country complements our bilateral development cooperation with Afghanistan, including in the spheres of infrastructure, connectivity and capacity building. 
 
7. In our view, UNAMA must continue to play a leading role in shaping and coordinating the international community's efforts to assist Afghanistan's political and economic reconstruction process. 
 
Madam President,
 
8. In conclusion, India sincerely hopes that the extraordinary efforts of the Afghan people and the international community over more than a decade for a successful political transition will provide a solid base for Afghanistan's stability in the future.  India will stand by the people and Government of Afghanistan in all their endeavours. We reiterate our support to the efforts of the international community leading to a peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan.
 
I thank you, Madam President.