India, Afghanistan fail to defame Pakistan at UN by Mateen Haider

India and Afghanistan failed in their objectives to defame Pakistan at the UN where a special session of the UN Security Council was called to discuss security situation in Afghanistan.

Highly credible diplomatic sources told The Nation that the UNSC session on Afghanistan was the brainchild of both India and Afghanistan and purpose was to malign Pakistan on the account of terrorism.

“Pakistan strongly rejected Afghan envoy accusations, similarly India failed to play an objective role in the entire session,” FO spokesman Zahid Hafeez Ch told The Nation.

Sources said both Afghan and Indian envoys to the UN remained active last week and held several meetings in the UN on the Security Council meeting on Afghanistan. 

“Time and date of the Security Council meeting was also kept secret and was not told to Pakistan, who is the direct stakeholder on Afghanistan,” a diplomatic source confided to The Nation.

Sources said when the session was made public on UN system, Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram sent a letter to UNSC seeking permission to participate in the UNSC meeting being a direct stakeholder, but no reply was given.”

Diplomatic sources say intention of India, Afghanistan was to malign Pakistan on account of terrorism at UNSC session

UNSC briefing on Afghanistan and Pakistan’s participation in it was imperative, but Pakistan’s request was turned down deliberately. 

In Islamabad spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Zahid Hafeez Chaudhary said Pakistan has closely followed discussion at the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan. 

“It is a matter of deep regret that, as the closest neighbour of Afghanistan, whose contribution in the ongoing peace process has been recognised by the international community, Pakistan’s request to the President of the Security Council to address the council’s session and present its perspective on Afghan peace process and the way forward was not acceded to,” the spokesman commented. 

The FO spokesman said on the other hand, the council’s platform was made available to enable the peddling of a false narrative against Pakistan. 

Pakistan regretted that Afghan representative in his statement at the UNSC, propagated disinformation and levelled baseless allegations against Pakistan with a view to mislead the international community. 

“Pakistan categorically rejects these accusations. Pakistan’s position on the issue has been shared with Security Council members,” the spokesman remarked. 

“We emphatically reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and that a negotiated political settlement is the only way forward for durable peace and security in the country,” he said.

“Towards that end, Pakistan’s constructive efforts with support of the international community led to achieving important milestones in Doha peace process including the US-Taliban Peace Agreement and the subsequent commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations,” Zahid Hafeez Ch remarked. 

The spokesman said as the US and NATO forces are near completion of their withdrawal from Afghanistan, we are seriously concerned at the growing violence in Afghanistan and lack of substantive progress in the Intra-Afghan Negotiations.

The spokesman, while expressing deep concern at the reports of human rights violations in Afghanistan, urged all sides to ensure full respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. 

“Pakistan calls upon all warring sides in Afghanistan to eschew the military approach, engage constructively in negotiations, and work together to secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement,” remarked the spokesman.

Chaudhary said it is equally important to remain cognisant of spoilers, both within and outside, who do not wish to see the return of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. 

The spokesman urged the government of Afghanistan, once again, to refrain from the blame-game and engage with Pakistan in a meaningful manner to address the challenges to peace, security and progress in the region.

The spokesman referred to and reiterated the need for effective use of bilateral institutional arrangements such as the Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS).

Talking exclusively to The Nation, Zahid Hafeez Ch said Indian envoy cleverly played its role and did not mention Pakistan in his speech however managed to include Pakistan in the speech of Afghan envoy to the UN.

“Pakistan is watchful of the Indian role in the month of August at UNSC,” Chaudhary said.