'Effective use of UN sanctions will restrict Afghan violence'

Voicing concern over "unremitting distress signals" of a worsening security situation in war-torn Afghanistan, India said "effective" implementation of UN sanctions will ensure restrictions on the movements of groups perpetrating violence.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddinhighlighted the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and called for greater efforts by the international community to support the Afghan government.
"The distress signals are unremitting - a worsening security situation, an increase in the tempo of insurgent activities, a greater toll of civilian casualities, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation," he said.
"All point to the need for greater engagement by the international community in support of the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan," he said, addressing the Security Council debate on UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) yesterday.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending the mandate of the UN mission in Afghanistan untilMarch 17, 2017.
The resolution said it "looks forward" to the next Ministerial Conference to be held in New Delhi this year and called on Afghanistan and its regional partners to keep up the momentum and continue their efforts to enhance regional dialogue and confidence.

India has in the past underscored that it is the responsibility of the sanctions committee to protect UN nations and its citizens from terror groups and has demanded that sanctions against listed individuals be strictly adhered to and implemented.

Akbaruddin said groups and individuals that perpetrate violence against the people and government of Afghanistan "cannot be allowed to exercise control or wield influence" over any part of Afghanistan's territory, as it would pose serious threats to the gains of the last 15 years.
"The effective implementation of the UNSC's Sanctions regime including the 1267 ISIL/ Al-Qaeda Sanctions regime and the 1988 Taliban Sanctions regime is a tangible measure that will go a long way in imposing restrictions on the listed entities/ individuals' movements, assets and arms embargo," he said.
Terming the expansion of the Taliban's territorial reach as a "disturbing development", Akbaruddin asked the Security Council to look into the security situation and the means to contain it with a "sense of urgency" adding that efforts to incite ethnic violence and conflict are also serious developments.

Akbaruddin noted that that the Secretary General's report
on Afghanistan confirms the "worrisome security situation" that there have been more than 11,000 documented civilian causalities in 2015.
Reiterating India's commitment to stand "steadfastly" with Afghanistan during its transformation decade, he said India is working to support the Afghan government and people in accordance with their priorities and national circumstances.
He said Afghanistan will be able to achieve its "optimum" economic potential if it is allowed the freedom of transit to major markets of South Asia.
"We are working with Afghanistan and Iran to develop trilateral transit and participation in the development of the Chahbahar Port which will augment our connectivity with Afghanistan," he said.

He also reiterated that India extends its full support to Afghanistan for strengthening its defensive capabilities to preserve its unity and territorial integrity.
"We stand ready to collaborate with Afghanistan to expand the training opportunities for Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in relevant Indian institutions, based on the requirements of Afghanistan," he said.
The visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Afghanistan in December last year followed by Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah's visit to India earlier this year "reflect the blossoming with a renewed vigour and vitality of India's cooperation with Afghanistan," he added.
Afghanistan's Parliament complex, constructed under India-Afghan Development Cooperation, is a symbol of the belief that terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan's future or dictate the choices the people of Afghanistan make, the Indian envoy said

The Secretary-General's Special Representative and UNAMA head Nicholas Haysom told the Council that the five major hurdles facing Afghan's National Unity Government include a contracting economy, an intensifying insurgency, an increasingly divided political environment, significant medium-term financial demand, and the need to achieve progress towards a sustainable peace.
Afghan envoy Mahmoud Saikal said peace talks with the Taliban must move forward, adding that "making peace with Pakistan is essential to making peace with the Taliban".
Pakistan's envoy Maleeha Lodhi hoped that direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban could resume soon, in line with the Quadrilateral Coordination Group road map and factors that would be critical are consistent declarations from the Afghan Government of its commitment to work for a negotiated peace, the ability of the Afghan security forces to hold their ground and the influence and political capital of all four members of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group members -Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US.

She emphasised that the Afghan government must come up with incentives to encourage the Taliban to engage in sustained talks, without preconditions that could halt negotiations before they started.