Minister
of State for Foreign Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday called
for closer cooperation among the OIC member states to tackle various
challenges including terrorism and to ensure their sovereignty,
political independence and territorial integrity. “ errorism has emerged
as the most serious scourge of our times”, she stated while addressing
the 38th Session of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)
Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held here in the capital of
Kazakhstan.The Minister of State said this Session of the Council of
Foreign Ministers is taking place at a time of great transformation,
particularly in the Muslim world. “Luckily, amid enormous challenges,
we can also smell sprouts of a more hopeful future as witnessed in
peaceful revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia”, she remarked.
Ms. Khar said, “the turbulence we are witnessing in the world today
makes the theme of this Conference “Session of Peace, Cooperation and
Development” as the most timely and relevant. Undoubtedly, peace and
development are indivisible. But peace has been eluding so many of our
lands.”
Describing terrorism as “the most serious scourge of our times”, the Minister of State said, “terrorists have no religion, no nationality, no values and they recognize no boundaries.”
“They are criminals and enemies of humanity. They destroy schools, hospitals and kill men, women and children which is repugnant to the teachings of Islam. We must confront terrorism collectively and resolutely,” she maintained.
Ms. Khar referred to Pakistan’s enormous suffering from terrorism, both in human and material terms and said, “more than 35000 Pakistanis have fallen victim to this menace. It includes 5000 personnel of the security forces.”
“Our economic losses exceed US $ 68 billion. Despite these losses, we remain determined to root out terrorism from our country and the region at large”, she added.
The Minister of State said “it is imperative that the international community recognizes the sacrifices that the people of Pakistan, the men, women, children on the streets of Pakistan, the soldiers and personnel of law-enforcement agencies make, almost on a daily basis, rather than to continue repeating the ‘do more’ mantra.”
She said political ownership and domestic support is vital in deflating the terrorists.
“When the world only highlights what we have been unable to achieve and chooses to overlook our sacrifices and what we have achieved, the political space for the Government to carry out operations against terrorists shrinks.”
“Comments that cast doubts on Pakistan’s commitment or the sacrifices of our people are, at the very least, counter-productive. We need the understanding and support of the world but, more so, we need the support of our Muslim brothers and sisters in our ongoing struggle against terrorism”, she maintained.
The Minister of State referred to the Joint Statement issued by the Presidents of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan on the eve of the Global Conference against Terrorism in Tehran on June 25, and said it reflected the commitment of the three neighbours to jointly confront and eliminate this evil from our region.
Ms. Khar said Pakistan and Afghanistan enjoy close fraternal relations, adding, “We continue to host 2.7 million Afghan brothers and sisters despite declining international assistance and our own economic difficulties.”
After Afghanistan, Pakistan has suffered the most from the direct and indirect consequences of ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, she said, adding, “We fully support President Karzai’s strategy for national re-conciliation.”
She also mentioned the first meeting of the joint commission for Reconciliation and Peace in Afghanistan held in Islamabad during President Karzai’s visit to Pakistan on June 10-11 and said “Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with our Afghan brethren in supporting the Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process in Afghanistan.”
“We shall also continue making our contribution in the rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan”, she added. APP
