Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has said “The Security Council needs to look into the deteriorating security situation and the means to contain it as it could pose serious threats to the gains made by the people of Afghanistan in the last 15 years”.
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Taking part in a debate on Afghanistan situation, she said the drone strike has raised serious questions about whether the global community was ready to invest in war instead of peace in Kabul.
“We will also continue to encourage an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process in which the government in Kabul and Taliban can bring this conflict to an end”, he added.
Describing the recent USA drone strike on its territory as a blatant breach of the United Nations Charter and global law, Pakistan has claimed that these strikes have disrupted the Afghan peace process and further complicated the political and socio-economic situation in the region.
She said it is also a blatant breach of the principles of the UN Charter and worldwide law. According to Olson, Mansour himself was an impediment to a peaceful settlement, and the Taliban’s refusal to negotiate with the Afghan government contributed to the decision to engage in the strike.
Therefore, she advised against the continuation of such a strategy.
While expressing Pakistan’s readiness to support a genuine Afghan peace process, Lodhi warned that her country will not tolerate violations of its sovereignty and its territorial integrity, “from whatever source”.
Richard Olson, the U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, defending the drone strike said it was Taliban’s repeated refusal to join talks with the Afghan government that the action was taken.
She further said, “Effective border management is the sovereign right of my country, stressing that there was nothing illegal about any construction on Pakistan’s side of the border, while rebutting the Afghan ambassador’s claim”.
Mr. Olson said the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit next month in Warsaw will demonstrate the commitment of the US and allies to secure the country.
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Urging the Afghan government and the global coalition to take action against Pakistani Taliban elements, which have sought refuge in Afghanistan, she emphasised that the elimination of these sanctuaries was essential to peace and security.
