Key points
- Terrorist groups in possession of billions worth of illicit arms abandoned in Afghanistan: Raza
- Calls on international partners to recover vast stockpile of abandoned weapons
- Says terrorist entities also receive external support and financing
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has expressed deep concern at the acquisition and use of modern and sophisticated illicit arms by terrorist groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – a UN-listed terrorist organization, which operates with impunity from Afghanistan – as well as the so-called Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Majeed Brigade.
While delivering the national statement at UNSC Arria-Formula meeting on Small Arms and Light Weapons Management in UN Sanctions Regimes, Syed Atif Raza, Counsellor at the Pakistan Mission, stated that terrorist armed groups are in possession of billions worth of illicit arms abandoned in Afghanistan, which are being used against civilians and armed forces of Pakistan.
Principal adversary
He further said that these terrorist entities also receive external support and financing from our principal adversary.
Pakistan called on its international partners to recover the vast stockpile of abandoned weapons, prevent their access to armed terrorist groups and take measures to close this thriving black market of illicit arms.
Syed Atif Raza said that concerted efforts are required to intercept illicit flows that support UN-sanctioned armed groups.
He said that small arms and light weapons have become instruments of choice for state and non-state actors to destabilise any country or region through fuelling conflict and support to illegal armed groups, organised crime and terrorism.
Nefarious activities
He said that these concerns are further compounded with increasing sophistication of illicit arms and access to modernised weapons at the disposal of illegal armed groups often operating across national boundaries.
“We know that non-state actors do not have many of the capabilities to manufacture advanced illicit arms, thus raising questions of culpability of certain state actors in these nefarious activities.
The Pakistani delegate stated that the issue of illicit small arms and light weapons should be addressed holistically and in a balanced manner.
“The UN Program of Action on the “Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects” strikes a careful balance between the legitimate security needs of states with the imperatives to address the issue of illicit arms both on supply and demand sides. We call for its full implementation to preserve and promote international and regional peace and security,” he added.
