Global community should work to remove artificial transit barriers of Afghanistan: India at UN

India at UN has said that international community should work towards removal of all artificial transit barriers imposed on Afghanistan, ensuring that all such rights are guaranteed to war-torn country under bilateral and multilateral agreements without any hindrance.

India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to UN Ambassor Nagaraj Naidu, speaking in UN General Assembly in support of a resolution on Afghanistan, said it is important for Afghanistan to have access to high seas for a prosperous future.

“ international community should work towards removal of all artificial transit barriers imposed on Afghanistan and ensure that all transit rights are guaranteed to Afghanistan under bilateral and multilateral transit agreements without any hindrance. We are gl to te that resolution before us calls upon states to do so,” Naidu said on Thursday.

He also asserted that re needs to be “zero tolerance" for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "It is important to ensure that territory of Afghanistan is t used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any or country. It is also important for international community to ensure that all states deny terrorist groups sanctuary, freedom of operations, recruitment and financial, material or political support and that those who do so are held accountable," Naidu said.

193-member General Assembly opted resolution ‘ situation in Afghanistan’ by a recorded vote of 130 in favour. Russia voted against resolution while Belarus, China and Pakistan abstained.

India said it was “proud” to co-sponsor resolution, which reiterates serious concern about continuing high level of violence and security situation in Afghanistan and stresses need to continue to dress threat to security and stability of Afghanistan caused by violence committed by Taliban, including Haqqani Network, as well as Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq and Levant and ir affiliates, in particular ISIL-Khorasan Province, and or terrorist and criminal groups, including those involved in narcotics tre, and foreign terrorist fighters.

India also voiced deep concern at high levels of violence in Afghanistan and condemned it in strongest terms. “It is important to dress threat to security and stability of Afghanistan caused by violence committed by Taliban and or terrorist groups. Peace process and violence cant go hand in hand and we call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire,” Naidu said.

Through resolution, General Assembly pledged its continued support to government and people of Afghanistan as y rebuild a stable, secure and ecomically self-sufficient State, free of terrorism, narcotics, transnational organised crime, including trafficking in persons, and corruption, and strengn foundations of constitutional democracy as a responsible member of international community.

It also urged furr efforts to strengn process of regional ecomic cooperation and welcomed joint efforts to enhance dialogue and collaboration and to vance ecomic development across region, including measures to facilitate regional connectivity, tre and transit, expanded consular visa cooperation and facilitation of business travel, expand tre.

It called upon all regional countries to facilitate tre and transit. In order to tide over "artificial and political" obstacles of n-permit of full transit rights to Afghanistan for ir products to reach India and Indian products to reach Afghanistan, India has operationalised air freight corridors that has seen more than 1,000 flights. Indian Ambassor said Afghanistan today is at a “critical st” and it is “vital” for international community to send right mess to everyone concerned.

“That was overarching principle that guided our approach to negotiations. body seeks peace more than Afghan people, upon whom war has been imposed for more than four deces,” Naidu said, ding that all opportunities towards bringing peace and stability should be welcomed.

He underscored that UNGA resolution is a recognition for peace and stability to prevail in Afghanistan, peace process must t just be inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned but it must be Afghan-controlled. “Solutions must come from Afghans mselves and sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan must be respected,” Naidu said, ding that rights of women, mirities and vulnerable need to be protected.

“Respect for human rights and democracy needs to be ingrained in any framework that a future Afghanistan plans to decide for itself,” he said. As contiguous neighbours, New Delhi and Kabul share a natural, historical relationship, Naidu said, ding that since 2001, India has invested three billion dollars towards development, reconstruction and capacity building in Afghanistan.

India recently concluded an agreement with Afghanistan for building Shahtoot Dam, which would provide safe drinking water to two million residents of Kabul city. India will also launch phase four of high impact community development projects in Afghanistan, which include around 150 projects worth USD 80 million. 

(Credits: Twitter/@IndiaUNNewYork)