'Enforce Taliban, al-Qaida sanctions to combat resurgent threats to Afghanistan'

United tions, March 16: India has called for strictly enforcing the Security Council sanctions on the Taliban and al-Qaida to combat the resurgent terrorist threat to Afghanistan.

India’s Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin told the Council on Tuesday that the effective implementation of the sanctions “will go a long way in imposing restrictions on the listed entities/individuals’ movements, assets and arms embargo.”

He was a speaking at a Council debate on UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UMA), which had its mandate renewed. The meeting heard a dire warning from Nicholas Haysom, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative for Afghanistan that in “2016, survival will be an achievement for the tiol Unity Government” as the tion “is being severely tested.”

Cautioning against the Taliban expanding territorial reach, Akbaruddin said, “We urge the Security Council to look into the security situation and the means to contain it with a sense of urgency.”

“The distress sigls 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,” Akbaruddin said. “All point to the need for greater engagement by the intertiol community.”

For India’s part, he said it “is working to support the Afghan Government and people.” New Delhi was ready to expand training programs for Afghan military and security forces at its institutions, he said.

On the economic front, Akbaruddin said Kabul would be able achieve its full potential if it is allowed the freedom of transit to major South Asian markets. “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. While cooperating with Iran in developing the port, New Delhi is building roads in Afghanistan to link to it.

He referred to the tiol Assembly Building built with Indian aid that was dedicated in December by Prime Minister rendra Modi President Ashraf Ghani. “The Parliament complex is a symbol of the resolve of Afghanistan to shape its future through votes and debates and the belief that terror and violence cannot be the instrument to shape Afghanistan’s future or dictate the choices the people of Afghanistan make,” he said.

During the debate Afghanistan and Pakistan traded charges over cross-border terrorism. Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative Mahmoud Saikal demanded an immediate end to incursions from across the Durand Line that marks their border.

There have been at least 56 instances of violation of Afghanistan’s territory from across the border, he said adding, “This jeopardizes Afghanistan- Pakistan relations at a time when making peace with Pakistan is essential to making peace with the Taliban.” Pakistani Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi responded that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were coming in from Afghanistan. Asserting that “we have a long border which is not easy to control,” she said that “there has been opposition to Pakistan’s creation of border barriers.”(IANS)