At UNSC, India calls for immediate ceasefire in Afghanistan

India has informed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that it calls for an “immediate comprehensive ceasefire” in Afghanistan, whereas welcoming all alternatives to deliver peace to the nation.

Also learn: Another Afghan peace push and a task for India

India’s place was articulated by its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, T.S. Tirumurti, at a UNSC assembly on Friday, convened beneath the Arria Formula (informally convened on the request of a UNSC member). Current and incoming members of the UNSC spoke on how the Council might assist the Afghan peace course of.

Also learn: India has joined Afghan peace course of on the proper time, ought to interact Taliban straight: Hamid Karzai

The timing of the remarks is critical as India is weeks away from starting a two-year time period on the Council and comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement this week that he would dramatically lower the variety of U.S. troops in Afghanistan by January 15, an act that would doubtlessly jeopardise the delicate peace course of underway in the nation.

“For durable peace in Afghanistan, we have to put an end to terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries operating across the Durand Line,” Mr. Tirumurti mentioned, in a reference to Pakistan.

India has been involved that the Afghan peace course of and untimely withdrawal of NATO/ U.S. coalition forces might depart alternatives for terrorist networks that would goal each Afghanistan and India. “The report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team under the Al-Qaeda/Da’esh Sanctions Committee has also highlighted the presence of foreign fighters in Afghanistan. For violence to end in Afghanistan, these terrorist supply chains must be broken,” Mr. Tirumurti mentioned, asking the Security Council to talk “unequivocally against violence” and act in opposition to terrorist sanctuaries and protected havens.

Speaking on the assembly, Afghanistan’s President, Ashraf Ghani mentioned, “Together with our international partners and friends, we have paid a heavy cost for peace, and taken serious risks, but we have seen no dividends yet. The threat of terrorism has not been eliminated. As recently as May of this year, the UN issued a report providing evidence that despite assurances from the Taliban to the United States, Al Qaeda is still present and active in Afghanistan, harboured by the Taliban.”

Mr Tirumurti additionally described India’s reconstruction and improvement help to Afghanistan since during the last practically 20 years.

“It is a testimony to our unwavering resolve to Afghanistan’s peace and stability that we have invested both with sweat and blood for the development of Afghanistan,” he mentioned.

Mr Tirumurti outlined 4 necessities for peace and stability in Afghanistan. First, the method needed to be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. Second, there have to be zero tolerance for terrorism. Third, the good points of the final 20 years can’t be misplaced.

“In particular, India is convinced that the rights of women need to be strongly protected…the rights of the minorities and the vulnerable need to be safeguarded,” Mr Tirumurti mentioned.

Fourth, the transit rights of Afghanistan shouldn’t be utilized by international locations “to extract [a] political price from Afghanistan,” Mr Tirumurti mentioned — a reference to Pakistan obstructing the move of individuals and supplies exterior of Afghanistan, impacting, for occasion, India-Afghanistan commerce.

Mr. Tirumurti assured Afghanistan of India’s assist in its quest for peace throughout India’s UNSC time period.