Strengthen Sanctions Regime Against Terrorists: India to UN Security Council

United Nations: Afghan peace talks without "perceptible reduction" in violence by the Taliban will not eliminate risks to reconciliation, India has said as it called on the Security Council to strengthen its sanctions regime to ensure listed terror outfits are denied safe havens.

"India has always maintained that any such peace talks have to be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and should only be with those Taliban sympathisers who are willing to accept and work within the Constitution of Afghanistan," India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Bhagwant Bishnoi told a Security Council debate on Afghanistan yesterday.

"Talks without perceptible reduction in violence by the Taliban will not eliminate risks and threats to peace and reconciliation," he said.

Mr Bishnoi said given the increasing spurt of terrorist attacks in different parts of the world and its ongoing activity in Afghanistan, the Security Council must look at ways to paralyse these terrorist organisations.

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The Council, which has passed several resolutions to counter terrorism that are binding on all member states, should strengthen its sanctions regime structure in order to "effectively impose and implement the restrictions placed on the listed terrorist organisations, so as to deny them sanctuaries and safe haven," he said.

Pakistan's Acting Permanent Representative to the UN Nabeel Munir said while his country had given its full support to combating violence, it was up to the Afghans themselves to "put their house in order".

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He said there was clear consensus that use of force alone might not achieve peace and robust reconciliation, if seriously pursued, was the only way to achieve that goal.

It was in that spirit that Pakistan had facilitated direct talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban, and it stood ready to play that role again, he said adding that no one should cast aspersions on Pakistan's sincerity.

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Noting that Afghan National Security Forces need continued support of the international community to defend Afghanistan's unity and security, Mr Bishnoi said India is ready to work with Afghanistan to strengthen its defensive capability.

He stressed that India's main concern remains that over the security situation in Afghanistan and cited the latest UN Secretary-General's report which said terrorism is the main source of insecurity and instability in the war-torn nation.

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"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," he said.