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| Pakistan to proscribe Jamat-ud-Daawa if asked by UN Security Council |
| 2008-12-11 |
| (APP): Vowing to take firm action against those involved in Mumbai attacks, Pakistan told the UN Security Council on Tuesday evening that it would proscribe Jamat-ud-Daawa (JUD) should the 15-member body decide to put sanctions on the group for being associated with terrorism. "After the designation of Jamat-ud-Daawa (JUD) under (Security Council resolution) 1267, the Government, on receiving communication from the Security Council, shall proscribe the JUD and take other consequential actions, as required, including the freezing of assets," Pakistan's UN Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon said in the course of a council debate on 'Threats to international peace and security cause by terrorists'. Other actions outlined by the Ambassador Haroon included a plan for effective government supervision as required for various welfare organizations. He said an intelligence-led operation was already underway to arrest the individuals allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks. No training camps for Lashkar-e-Tayyaba or any other such entity would be allowed on the Pakistani territory. "The above measures, which are in process, constitute further proof of Pakistan's determination to take action and not to allow its territory to be used for terrorism," he added. Ambassador Haroon spoke after India demanded that the United Nations ban the Jamat-ud-Dawaa, calling it a front organisation of Lashkar-e-Toiba(LeT) for its involvement in the Mumbai strikes. "We have requested the Security Council to proscribe the Pakistani group Jamaat-ud-Dawa since it is a terrorist outfit," Indian Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said in the debate. "All those who were in any way responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attacks, wherever they may be, should be brought to justice," he said. In his well-reasoned speech, Ambassador Haroon said both Pakistan and India were victims of terrorism, and suggested that the best response to such acts was for both countries to cooperate more closely in efforts to combat the scourge and to resolve the decades-old conflict in Kashmir. He assured the Council that Pakistan was not involved in the attacks in any way and was taking action against extremist groups who sought, in any way, to destroy the peace of the country and its neighbours. The Pakistan ambassador said he was deeply troubled by the events in Mumbai, as well as, a few days later, similar violence in Peshawar, in his own country, which he said showed the common experience of all States that were victims of terrorism. President Asif Ali Zardari, he added, had pledged to bring to justice anyone found to have been involved in those attacks, quoting extensively from Zardari's article in Monday's New York Times. Not only was Pakistan not involved in the attacks in any way, but it, too, was subject to such attacks, and had taken action against extremist groups who sought, in any way, to destroy the peace of the country and its neighbours, he said. In that context, he was a bit surprised by the strong denouement of the Indian statement. The best response to the Mumbai carnage was to cooperate in the struggle and to support Pakistan's fight against terrorism. Terrorist acts against Pakistani citizens had originated in India, as well. The Government of Pakistan had already instigated an investigation, on its own, of the Mumbai attacks, and prepared a strategy to arrest individuals found to be part of those attacks and to provide effective supervision of various welfare organizations that could have provided support. His Government had also reached out in various ways to India. In the broader fight against terrorism, he said, it was crucial to formulate comprehensive strategies. Simplistic approaches would only create more problems. Initiatives to promote international harmony were critical, as well as political solutions to long, unresolved conflicts such as Kashmir and Palestine, and as appropriate solutions to other root causes, the Pakistan ambassador said. He also stressed the need to strengthen democracy around the world and, most importantly, the need for the international community to stand united. |
| Posted by:Fred |