General Assembly Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Bhagwant S. Bishnoi, Acting Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations in the UNSC Debate on UNAMA held on 18 December, 2014

 

Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat, Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration of Chad and President of the Security Council,

 

Let me begin by thanking you for organizing today's debate on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan [UNAMA]. I thank the Secretary General for the quarterly report on the situation in Afghanistan and also welcome the new SRSG Nicholas Hayson.

 

Mr. President,

 

Afghanistan has just gone through a historic political transition. We welcome the establishment of the National Unity Government led by President Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah.      The people of Afghanistan showed tremendous patience and forbearance which made the National Unity Government Agreement possible. I have no doubt that the Afghan political leadership will keep the expectations of the Afghan people in mind, as they undertake the difficult tasks that lie ahead- including the early formation of Government consistent with the National Unity Government Agreement, and the tasks of electoral reforms and organizing a Constitutional Loya Jirga.

 

I wish to place on record my Government's appreciation for the special role played by the Special Representative in Afghanistan during this process. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan 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.

 

Mr. President,

The evil scourge of terrorism and extremism continues to threaten Afghanistan's peace and stability.  That terrorist and extremists groups have continued to survive despite the immense military pressure that is being brought on them by the ANSF only underscores the fact that these groups continue to benefit from support from beyond Afghanistan's borders, and continue to access resources from transnational terrorist and criminal networks

 

The latest report of Secretary General mentions that of late the Afghan Government has been facing a sustained and determined challenge in securing key districts across many provinces that remain under insurgent pressure.   It is alarming to see statistics like overall number of security incidents this year increasing by 10.3 %, when compared to a similar period in 2013.

 

The UN Special Representative must therefore continue to focus his attention on this serious issue. We cannot afford to lose sight of the fact that the main threat to peace and stability in Afghanistan is terrorism.  The attacks in Kabul, Sydney and Peshawar only underline the fact that terrorists do not respect borders, and make no differentiation between states. They pose a common threat to humanity.

 

Mr.  President,

In the recently concluded London Conference we all agreed that Afghanistan is entering a new phase in its economic transition.

 

In today's global economic situation when government budgets are strained, and when the sentiment of 'aid fatigue' exists in most traditional donor countries, Afghanistan's economic transition will have to be primarily private sector led.

 

As a lead country of the Trade Commerce and Investment CBM under the Heart of Asia process, India has gained some experience on this issue. One of the consistent messages we are receiving from the private sector businesses that are serious about entering into the Afghan market is that while security is an issue that can at times be managed, Afghanistan's lack of connectivity to sea Ports and to faster growing economic regions of Asia is an insurmountable constraint.

 

India feels that for securing Afghanistan's access to all existing regional Maritime Ports, and developing more effective transit agreements between Afghanistan and its immediate neighbours and faithfully implementing existing ones, is a priority and vital. India is presently in discussion with the Governments of Afghanistan and Iran to examine how the existing Port of Chabahar in Iran can be developed to support such a strategy. We feel that when this project takes off, there will be significant immediate gains for reconstruction activities in the western regions of Afghanistan

 

Mr. President,

UNAMA has an important role to play in supporting the activities of new political institutions of the Afghan State. No other organization can represent, in full measure the international community's concern for Afghanistan, and its vision for a peaceful, sovereign, independent and prosperous Afghanistan. But UNAMA must also focus on the important role it plays in ensuring delivery of valuable humanitarian and development assistance to Afghanistan- the Mission is uniquely placed to deploy the required professional and physical resources to reach much needed humanitarian and development assistance to the remotest corners of Afghanistan

 

Mr. President,

This is a critical decade of transformation for Afghanistan.

 

A united, stable, prosperous and independent Afghanistan is in the interest of the region and the international community.

 

India is committed to helping Afghanistan achieve this objective.

 

I thank you, Mr. President.