UK Charge d’Affairs James Kariuki. Photo: file
THE UNITED NATIONS:
Members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the recent deadly terrorist attacks in several localities in Pakistan’s Balochistan province and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
In a press release issued at the UN headquarters in New York, the 15-member Council said: “This reprehensible act of terrorism resulted in the serious loss of 48 Pakistani nationals, including 31 civilians,” including five women and three children.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks, the statement said, calling them “heinous and cowardly”.
The Council’s statement on the escalation of terrorist attacks against Pakistan was issued by the British Chargé d’affaires, James Kariuki, the current President of the Council.
“The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Pakistan, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured,” he said, reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
“Members of the Security Council stressed the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.
They urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to actively cooperate with the Government of Pakistan in this regard,” the statement added.
“The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, whatever its motivation, wherever it occurs, at any time and whoever commits it.
They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
More than 250 people have been killed in coordinated attacks launched by Indian-sponsored terrorists across Balochistan since Saturday, a security official said on Wednesday.
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Wednesday that “197 terrorists have been killed in ongoing counter-terrorism operations.”
He added that at least 36 civilians and 22 security personnel were killed in the coordinated attacks in restive Balochistan.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a banned organization, claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement sent to AFP.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to move quickly to designate the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist organization subject to its sanctions regime, saying the application for listing was already under consideration by the council.
“We hope that the Council will act expeditiously to designate BLA under the 1267 sanctions regime, granting the listing request which is currently under consideration,” Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said at a UN Security Council press briefing on “threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.”
In his speech, the envoy thanked members of the UN Security Council for issuing a press statement condemning the recent attacks in Balochistan and expressed appreciation for what he described as an “international outpouring of support and solidarity with Pakistan.”
“We remain determined to eliminate this externally financed scourge from our soil and to denounce the sponsors, financiers, accomplices and accomplices present on the other side of our borders,” Ambassador Ahmad said.
Ambassador Ahmad said Pakistan had paid a heavy price in the global fight against terrorism.
“As a frontline state in the global counterterrorism effort, we have sacrificed blood and treasure – with more than 90,000 casualties and enormous economic losses over the years,” he said.
Recalling Pakistan’s role in previous counter-terrorism efforts, he said the “core” of Al-Qaeda had been “largely decimated in Afghanistan due to Pakistan’s instrumental efforts”, adding that Pakistan had also played a leading role in the fight against the regional affiliate of the Islamic State militant group.
However, Ambassador Ahmad warned that the security situation had deteriorated in recent years, particularly after the Taliban took over Kabul.
“Externally mandated and foreign-funded terrorist groups such as Fitna al Khawarij TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) and Fitna al Hindustan BLA and its Majeed Brigade have been given a new lease of life,” he said.
“Operating with impunity from Afghan soil and with the active support of our eastern neighbor, these groups are responsible for heinous terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. »
Referring to the latest violence in Balochistan, he said the BLA had claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks in several places.
“Only this weekend, the BLA claimed responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks in several locations of Balochistan province which resulted in the martyrdom of 48 innocent civilians, including five women and three children,” he said, adding that “145 BLA terrorists were neutralized during the effective response of our valiant security forces.”
