Support for terror groups from beyond Afghan borders must end to ensure peace: India

In a veiled reference to Pakistan, India has told the UN Security Council that the support and safe havens enjoyed by terror groups like the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, LeT and JeM from "beyond Afghanistan's borders" must be addressed to fight the scourge of terrorism and ensure peace in the war-torn country.

Peace and reconciliation cannot go forward in an atmosphere of terror, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said here Tuesday.

"There is a surge of violence in Afghanistan in recent days, including threats to the election process itself. This has deepened apprehensions that acts of terror are being used to jockey for a place of advantage in the negotiating process," he said.

Akbaruddin, speaking at the Security Council quarterly debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said the international community needs to continue its support by fulfilling the commitments made to the Afghan security forces in their fight against the scourge of terrorism.

"The support and safe havens enjoyed from beyond Afghanistan's borders by groups such as the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Da'esh, as well as Al Qaeda and its proscribed affiliates, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, must be addressed," he said, without naming any country.

India has been a victim of terrorism, and it understands and empathises with its Afghan friends the suffering and pain they are undergoing, Akbaruddin said.

The Council was meeting just days after months of direct talks between the Taliban and US Government officials were declared "dead" by US President Donald Trump.

Akbaruddin said India supports UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' call for direct talks since it is the Afghan people who will implement and bear the consequences of any agreements arrived at.

"Hence, outcomes which have constitutional legitimacy and a political mandate and are arrived at in an inclusive and democratic way alone can ensure stability."
"Afghanistan is poised to renew its commitment to an order which ensures a democratically elected government is at the heart of any process to determine a peaceful settlement of its issues. A solution which will best suit the country and will be implementable in a sustainable and dignified manner is what we should all join in support of."
"We believe that there is hope on the horizon. We remain willing to work with all countries in the region and beyond, keeping Afghanistan's sovereignty and its ownership of the peace process at the forefront."