Taliban Must Answer for Presence of Terror Groups, Afghan UN Envoy Says
Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan’s acting representative to the United Nations, warned at a meeting of the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee that since the Taliban came to power and in the absence of a “legitimate government,” extremism and terrorism have become serious threats to Afghanistan and the region.
Pointing to what he said were repeated UN reports documenting the presence and activity of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Faiq said the Taliban authorities must be held accountable. He stressed that “Afghanistan’s soil must never become a safe haven for terrorists or a platform for threatening other countries.”
In his speech on “Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism,” the Afghan acting envoy to the UN said the people of Afghanistan have suffered deep pain and hardship from terrorism and the use of extremist groups as proxy forces.
He added: “We firmly condemn terrorism — wherever and by whomever it is committed. No political purpose, ideological claim or religious justification can justify terrorist violence.” Faiq also stressed that there should be no distinction between “good” and “bad” terrorists.
In another part of his remarks, Faiq described Pakistan’s strikes on Afghan soil, which Islamabad says are part of its fight against terrorism, as “illegal” and said counterterrorism efforts must not lead to “illegal attacks” or disregard for civilian lives. He added that the people of Afghanistan should not pay the price for terrorist violence or military responses that endanger their lives and livelihoods.
The Afghan acting representative to the UN called on the international community to support the formation, through a “sustained response,” of a “legitimate, accountable and inclusive” government, one that he said would be based on the will of the Afghan people and able to implement the country’s international commitments.
He also emphasized the restoration of the rights of women and girls and ensuring women’s full participation, and said an effective response to terrorism requires a principled and coordinated international approach. The UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee is one of the body’s specialized committees and deals, among other things, with legal issues related to the fight against terrorism.
