Pakistan calls for holistic approach to defeat terrorism

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan has warned the world about the dangers posed to the regional and international peace by collaboration between Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Majeed Brigade.

Delivering a statement at UN Security Council briefing on “Threats to international peace & security caused by terrorist acts”, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad while acknowledging that the Afghan interim government has been fighting ISIL-K said the threat from various other terrorist groups such as Fitna Al Khawarij, TTP and Baloch militant groups, which have sought refuge in ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan, remains unaddressed.

The Ambassador underlined the need for a holistic approach to defeat terrorism; one rooted in clarity and conviction and said that addressing the underlying drivers of terrorism is critical through a long-term vision.

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that it is also essential to address state terrorism and oppression as part of a holistic approach. He strongly condemned collective punishment, human rights violations, demographic changes and misuse of counter-terrorism narratives to sustain occupation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) and Occupied Palestinian Territories. He stressed that occupation cannot be justified as counter-terrorism.

He said that there is also a need to differentiate between terrorism and legitimate struggles of people against foreign occupation.