India and Afghanistan have cornered Pakistan for letting terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad spoil regional peace. During the Heart of Asia (HOA) conference in Amritsar on Sunday, both the countries not only attacked Pakistan for not doing enough to control terrorism in the region but the official resolution of the conference, called Amritsar Declaration, even named the Pakistan-based terror groups among organisations causing a “high level of violence” in Afghanistan and the region.
“We remain concerned by the gravity of the security situation in Afghanistan in particular and the region and the high level of violence caused by the Taliban, terrorist groups including ISIL / DAISHand its affiliates, the Haqqani Network, Al Qaida, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, East Turkistan Islamic Movement, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Jundullah and other foreign terrorist fighters,” the declaration said.
Indirectly attacking Pakistan for sponsoring terror, the resolution further said, “Acknowledging the support that terrorism derives in our region, we demand an immediate end to all forms of terrorism, as well as all support to it, including financing of terrorism.”
“We strongly call for concerted regional and international cooperation to ensure elimination of terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, including dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries and safe havens in the Heart of Asia region, as well as disrupting all financial, tactical and logistical support for terrorism,” it added.
The resolution called for all states to take action against the “terrorist entities” in accordance with their respective national counter-terrorism policies, their international obligations and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy 2006.Furthermore, we encourage early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism with consensus.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone of the meet by highlighting why “resolute action” is required against terrorism in Afghanistan and the region.
“Terrorism and externally induced instability pose the gravest threat to Afghanistan’s peace, stability and prosperity. And, the growing arc of terrorist violence endangers our entire region. As such, support for voices of peace in Afghanistan alone is not enough.
“It must be backed by resolute action. Not just against forces of terrorism, but also against those who support, shelter, train and finance them.
“Silence and inaction against terrorism in Afghanistan and our region will only embolden terrorists and their masters. Third, our bilateral and regional commitments of material assistance for Afghanistan’s development and humanitarian needs must continue and increase,” PM Modi said.
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani also joined PM Modi, holding Pakistan responsible for cross-border terrorism and providing safe haven to extremists. He said that Pakistan is in an undeclared war with Afghanistan.
The Afghan President said that Islamabad practices selective cleansing of terrorists as Kabul has often accused the Pakistani security forces of differentiating between the ‘good Taliban’ and the ‘bad Taliban’.
“The military operations in Pakistan have brought a major but selective displacement of Pakistani extremist networks and their allies in Afghanistan,” said Ghani.
“Despite our intense engagement with Pakistan on bilateral and multilateral bases the undeclared war….. (has) also intensified during 2016 with special intensity right after the Brussels conference,” he added.
President Ghani said that around 30 terror groups are trying to build their permanent presence in his country and called for a joint international effort without “blame-game” to identify the cross-border terrorism.
Representatives from over 30 countries including China, United States, Russia, Iran and Pakistan discussed peace, cooperation and economic development in Afghanistan at during the conference.
(With agency inputs)
