Pakistan urges steps to foil terrorists

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has underscored the need for measures to prevent non-state actors and terrorist groups from obtaining and using chemical and biological weapons.

Speaking at the General Assembly’s Disarmament and International Security Committee, Ambassador Tehmina Janjua said the key tools for preventing non state actors from acquiring, producing or using chemical and biological weapons included national physical protection efforts, international assistance and capacity building.

Janjua, who is Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, pointed out that Pakistan had supported the Russian proposal for a bio chemical terrorism convention. The Pakistani envoy, who was participating in a debate on weapons of mass destruction, said Pakistan condemns the use of chemical weapons by anyone anywhere and welcomed the milestones that had been achieved in the destruction of Syrian and Libyan chemical weapons.

“We remain committed to full implementation of the biological and toxin weapons convention,” she said. “We attach high priority to the convention’s provisions relating to world cooperation and assistance as well as peaceful uses of chemical technology.”

Ambassador Janjua said Pakistan had instituted comprehensive legislative, regulatory and administrative measures, including codes of conduct to regulate life sciences in the country to enhance bio safety and bio security regulations and strengthen export controls on biological agents and toxins. “Our robust export control regime imbibes the best standards.”

Pakistan has also reaffirmed its commitment to the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention and continues to participate in the work of the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons).

Pakistan also continues to conduct basic and advanced regional and international assistance and protection courses, she said. As a mainstream partner in the global non-proliferation regime, Pakistan has elaborated and implemented an export control regime that is comprehensive and fully harmonised with international standards, Janjua said. Our comprehensive export control regime and its effective implementation has been recognised and appreciated by our partners.