A senior Pakistani diplomat has urged for a “concerted campaign” to recover weapons from terrorist groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which uses safe havens in Afghanistan to launch cross-border attacks on Pakistan.
“Pakistan is particularly concerned at the acquisition and use of modern and sophisticated small arms by terrorist groups like TTP, a UN-listed terrorist organization,” stated Ambassador Munir Akram during the 4th Conference reviewing the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (UNPoA) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).
The 2001 UNPoA, endorsed by all member states, aims to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. The UN has been supporting its implementation at national, regional, and international levels since its inception.
“Terrorists and criminals do not manufacture these arms,” Ambassador Akram pointed out, highlighting that they acquire them through illicit markets or from entities seeking to destabilize regions or countries. He emphasized the need to investigate how terrorist groups and criminal organizations obtain sophisticated weapons.
Ambassador Akram called for all states and the UN to take measures to prevent the illicit trade, transfer, and diversion of these arms, noting that their proliferation exacerbates conflicts, fuels terrorism, and threatens peace and security. He also mentioned the evolving nature of conflicts and new challenges posed by technologies like UAVs and drones.
He stressed that the UNPoA and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) provide an enduring international framework to address these challenges. The current review conference, he said, is an opportunity to assess progress, identify challenges, and chart the way forward.
Pakistan has strengthened its legislative frameworks, enhanced transfer controls, and implemented measures to prevent the diversion of SALW to unauthorized users. However, Ambassador Akram emphasized that a supply-side approach alone is insufficient, calling for efforts to resolve conflicts, end terrorism, and eliminate organized crime.
International assistance and cooperation in building national capacities for tracking and interdiction are essential for implementing the UNPoA, he concluded.
Opening the discussion, Izumi Nakamitsu, head of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, conveyed remarks on behalf of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who highlighted the destructive impact of small arms and the rising global military expenditures.
June 20,2024
Source: Express Tribune