Drone strikes are illegal, immoral

Pakistan demands immediate end to such strikes; tells UN they fuel violence, extremism; have grave impact on fundamental human rights; violating territorial integrity,

sovereignty of states can be counter-productive

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has demanded an immediate cessation of drone strikes that violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, saying such attacks also breach the fundamental rights of the victims and further fuel violence and extremism.

Speaking in the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi condemned the continued use of drones and described it as blatant disregard of existing international commitments on the use of remotely piloted aircraft. She termed the drone strikes illegal and immoral.

She was elaborating Pakistan’s position after the adoption by the 193-member assembly of a resolution on the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, says a press release on Saturday.

During the negotiations on the resolution spanning over a month, Pakistan is understood to have made strenuous efforts to further strengthen international commitments regarding illegal drone strikes and their impact.

Pointing to the progress in this regard, Ambassador Lodhi highlighted recognition by member states of the notion that counter terrorism measures violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states can be counter productive and also fuel violent extremism.

She emphasised that noting the conclusions and recommendations of the report of the Human Rights Council on the use of drones, was the first step in the right direction. The report raises legal questions on the use of drones, points out their grave impact on fundamental human rights and expresses serious concerns on how their use undermines counter-terrorism efforts.

The Pakistani envoy welcomed the consensus on the resolution, which she said served as a strong and united signal against the scourge of terrorism. She also appreciated a renewed focus on the preventive approach to terrorism, which included addressing the root causes of terrorism as well as the internal and external drivers of violent extremism.

Ambassador Lodhi said that for Pakistan, such an approach was closely linked to promoting a culture of peace. The UN Declaration and Plan of Action, now included in the resolution, at Pakistan’s initiative, stresses the need to resolve protracted conflicts, ensure full realisation of the peoples’ right to self-determination and addressing xenophobia and all forms of discrimination on the basis of religion, culture and ethnicity.

In the resolution, as an active member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Pakistan was also able to mobilise support to revive the international community’s focus on ending foreign occupation, resolving conflicts and confronting oppression, as well as enhancing inter cultural understanding and ensuring respect for all religions and religious values.

The Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, adopted in 2006, is considered as the single most comprehensive and consensus-based, counter-terrorism strategy in the United Nations. It is reviewed every two years by UN member states through a resolution that seeks to develop understandings and measures, in particular regarding new challenges and developments.

Also by the 72-paragraph text, the assembly urged all member states as well as the United Nations, to unite against violent extremism, as and when it was conducive to terrorism.

Further, the assembly called for enhanced engagement by member states with the work of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, and for greater coordination and coherence among United Nations entities and with donors and recipients of efforts to build counter-terrorism capacity. 

The assembly stressed the significance of a sustained and comprehensive approach to addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

Opening the two-day debate, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community to act with unity and resolve to deal with the unprecedented levels of terrorism and violent extremism across the world.

“We have an urgent moral duty to do all we can to prevent and end this carnage,” the secretary-general said.

“Taking collective preventive action against terrorism, in the spirit of our United Nations Charter, is the only way to secure peace and prosperity for succeeding generations,” he added.