China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun emphasised that Beijing wants to convene the summit “because of the fact that we have so many global challenges ahead of us”. ..reports Asian Lite News
China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun said on Tuesday (local time) that Beijing wants a prompt summit of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, China, the US, France, the UK) to hold a discussion on a number of global issues, a media report said.
Expressing the country’s desire to hold the summit, Zhang said, “It’s our strong wish that this summit can be held as early as possible,” according to Sputnik.
He emphasised that Beijing wants to convene the summit “because of the fact that we have so many global challenges ahead of us”.
Underling the need to convene the summit, Zhang stressed that “there are so many global challenges ahead of us. And we have many peace and security issues.”
Referring to the fellow members view over holding a meet, he said P5 members Russia and France have echoed China’s call to convene the summit, reported Sputnik.
“Actually, China, Russia and France all have a proposed to have a P5 Summit, Zhang said, adding, “and since then, we have had discussions on this issue, and exploring the possibilities. Discussions are still going on.”
Taiwan and China
Taiwan should develop the range, precision and mobility of its weapons to boost the island’s defenses, said Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng on Monday.
“It is necessary for our weapons to have long-range, precision and mobility,” Sputnik quoted Chiu as saying. He added that it will boost the island’s defenses and the combat readiness of its armed forces.
With the purchase of US F-16V fighter jets, Taiwan’s defense budget for 2022 reaches USD 18.6 billion, the minister noted. In addition, Taiwan is to spend an extra USD 8.6 billion on weapons within the next five years, Sputnik reported.
This comes as China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to breach Taiwan’s Air defense identification zone (ADIZ). PLA has breached Taiwan’s Air defense identification zone (ADIZ) more than 60 times in the month of September.
Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.
Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that “Taiwan’s independence” means war.
On June 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to complete reunification with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to smash any attempts at formal independence for the island. (ANI)
President Biden’s support provides a big boost to India’s push for the reform of the powerful UN organ…reports Asian Lite News.
US President Joe Biden, during his first in-person meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House on Friday applauded India’s strong leadership during its UN Security Council Presidency in August 2021.
President Biden also reiterated the US support for India’s permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council and for other countries, which are important champions of multilateral cooperation and aspire to permanent seats on the UN Security Council, the US-India Joint Leaders’ Statement issued after the meeting between the two leaders, maintained.
Earlier in June asserted that the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on UN Security Council reforms can no longer be used as a smokescreen, as the General Assembly decided to roll over the IGN work to the next UNGA session and agreed to include an amendment proposed by the G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan.
As per the statement, the US President also reaffirmed U.S. support for India’s entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
They welcomed the extension of the Statement of Guiding Principles on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development to leverage the combined capacities of India and the United States to address global development challenges around the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Africa.
In addition, they looked forward to the launch of the US–India Gandhi-King Development Foundation to advance cooperation on health, education, and the environment.
Both leaders welcomed increased cooperation under the Quad, including in the multilateral domain given their shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region with respect to territorial integrity and sovereignty and international law, the joint leaders’ statement said.
They also called for an end to the use of violence, for release of all political detainees, and for a swift return to democracy in Myanmar.
They further called for the urgent implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus. (India News Network)
It further highlights the importance of “upholding human rights, including for women, children and minorities.”…reports Asian Lite News
The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Friday, specifying the importance of “equal and meaningful participation” of women in public life.
The resolution also emphasises “the importance of the establishment of an inclusive and representative government”, in the wake of the Taliban takeover on 15 August.
It further highlights the importance of “upholding human rights, including for women, children and minorities.”
Authorising a six-month extension of the UN mission’s mandate, Council members requested the Secretary-General to prepare a report by January 31, 2022, that outlines “strategic and operational recommendations for the mandate of UNAMA in light of recent political, security, and social developments”.
It also calls on Antonio Guterres to brief the Council on the situation in the country and the work of UNAMA every two months, until March 17, 2022.
The resolution recognizes “the need for strengthened efforts to provide humanitarian assistance” and says it requires “all parties to allow full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access”.
The people in Afghanistan are engulfed in multiple crises, with half the population in urgent need of aid. More than a billion dollars was pledged to assist the civilian population at a special UN humanitarian conference which took place on Monday.
The 15 Council members also want to ensure that Afghanistan is not used as a base for terrorism.
“The territory of Afghanistan should not be used to threaten or attack any country, to plan or finance terrorists acts, or to shelter and train terrorists, and that no Afghan group or individual should support terrorists operating on the territory of any country,” the resolution reads.
The text stresses “the important role that the United Nations will continue to have promoting peace and stability” in the country, highlighting not only UNAMA but other agencies, funds and programmes.
Separately, in a joint press statement by Security Council penholders (who lead and negotiate the drafting of resolutions) Norway and Estonia, their ambassadors noted that the situation “remains unpredictable”, in Afghanistan.
For them, today’s vote shows “the unanimous position of the Security Council to support the Afghan people through a continued presence of the United Nations on the ground.”
The two nations say they will “continue to support and strengthen the voices of women peacebuilders and human rights defenders in Afghanistan.”
“Afghan women are pillars of society and must play an essential role in building sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan,” said the statement.
The co-penholders applauded the commitments made at Monday’s conference, to scale-up humanitarian funding, but say it is also critical to ensure that humanitarian assistance, in particular women humanitarian workers, will have safe and unhindered access throughout the country. (ANI)
Under India’s presidency, the Council successfully steered the discussions on various peace and security issues including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Yemen, and the Middle East peace process, reports Asian Lite News
India’s month-long Presidency of the powerful UN Security Council has ended with “substantive” outcomes on key global issues including a strong resolution on the situation in Afghanistan that reflected India’s views and concerns, and demanded that the Afghan territory not be used to threaten any country or shelter terrorists.
India, currently serving a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council, assumed the rotating Presidency of the UN body for the month of August.
The Presidency ended with the first resolution being adopted by the Council on the situation in Afghanistan following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban on the penultimate day of India’s Presidency of the Security Council for the month of August.
“As we wind down our Presidency of UN #SecurityCouncil, we thank all colleagues in #UNSC for their tremendous support to make our Presidency a success with many substantive outcomes,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti tweeted.
“I & @IndiaUNNewYork wish incoming Presidency @irishmissionun & Amb Geraldine Nason all success,” he said.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield congratulated India for a successful presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of August. “Your leadership and resilience saw us through many challenging issues — especially the situation in Afghanistan,” she said.
“Thanks to @IndiaUNNewYork for a successful presidency during August. Highlights included: meeting on maritime security chaired by PM @narendramodi; and focus on peacekeeping & technology, and on counter-terrorism. Which can only mean 1 thing… we’re up next!” Ireland’s mission to the UN said.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla chaired the UNSC meeting on Afghanistan in which the resolution was adopted.
“I was in particular very happy to preside over the adoption of today’s important resolution on Afghanistan, which has unequivocally conveyed that Afghanistan’s territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter, train terrorists or plan or finance terrorist acts.
“It underlines terrorist individuals and entities designated by UN Security Council (resolution) 1267. This is of direct importance to India,” Shringla said.
Under India’s Presidency, the Council held three sessions on Afghanistan and issued three press statements on August 3, 16 and 27, the last one strongly condemning the “deplorable attacks” near the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on August 26.
On the penultimate day of India’s Presidency, the Council issued the strong resolution on Afghanistan “demands that Afghan territory not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts, and reiterates the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan, including those individuals and entities designated pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), and notes the Taliban’s relevant commitments.”
India began its Presidency with a high-level signature event on maritime security presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Tirumurti describing it as “path-breaking” in many ways since this was the first time the Prime Minister of India chaired the Security Council.
The event was the first time when there was a comprehensive debate on the holistic concept of maritime security.
There was also a Presidential Statement on maritime security which incidentally was also the first Presidential Statement on the concept.
“The Presidential Statement deals with important issues relating to Maritime Security, including the place of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) in Maritime Security, freedom of navigation, terrorism, especially at sea like Mumbai attacks, trafficking in arms, drugs and humans, the place of regional and sub-regional organisations in this context, piracy,” Tirumurti had said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired the two other signature events – on Peacekeeping and Technology on August 18 and the briefing on Daesh on August 19.
Tirumurti had underlined that the event on peacekeeping showcased India’s strong commitment to peacekeeping, besides reflecting “our age-old tradition” in this field.
India exchanged an MoU with the UN in support of the ”Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping” initiative and to UN C4ISR Academy.
Highlighting the several “historic firsts” that India achieved through this event as well, he had said for the first time, India drafted a resolution on peacekeeping focused on ensuring accountability for crimes against peacekeepers.
The resolution was sponsored by 80 member states, including all 15 members of the Security Council, “which is not often seen in the Security Council,” Tirumurti had said.
“Also for the first time, the Security Council held an Open Debate focused exclusively on how technology can aid in peacekeeping and for the first time, the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement on the topic of technology and peacekeeping,” he had said.
Following the August 19 ministerial-level briefing on Daesh, the Council unanimously issued a press statement that reiterated that they condemn in the strongest terms all instances of terrorism and noted with concern that Daesh could regain the ability to launch or orchestrate international terrorist attacks.
Under India’s presidency, the Council successfully steered the discussions on various peace and security issues that are on its agenda, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Yemen, and the Middle East Peace Process.
Several UN member states tweeted to express gratitude to India for its leadership of the Council during the month.
“Brazil extends its warm congratulations to the whole team of @IndiaUNNewYork – our partner in BRICS and IBSA- for presiding over the @UN Security Council in a specially critical month. As an incoming Council member, we look forward to working together next year,” Brazil’s Mission to the UN said.
Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN Ambassador Alya Ahmed Saif Al Thani and UAE Mission to the UN congratulated India for the successful presidency of the UNSC during August.
Switzerland Mission at the UN thanked “@ambtstirumurti for today’s wrap up of a successful #UNSC presidency. This month underscored the need to Respect #HumanRights & #IHL in Afghanistan. Improve measures to protect #peacekeepers, Strengthen int’l response to humanitarian crises.”
“Thank you India for your dedicated leadership & spirit of transparency as President of the #SecurityCouncil in August. In addition to an interesting agenda & many adoptions, #NorwayUNSC will certainly miss the tasty social part of your programme,” Norway Mission to the UN said.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar says terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed continue to operate with both impunity and encouragement and declares that that UN should never overlook their raising of resources, reports Arul Louis
India will assume a pivotal role in the global fight against terror when it takes over the chair of the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) next year, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has announced.
He said that India will be taking over the leadership of the CTC from Tunisia and hopes to build on the gains from Thursday’s meeting of the Council on terrorism threats that he presided over.
Addressing reporters outside the Security Council chamber after the meeting, he said that he was happy that “a very strong, substantive, clear press statement” was adopted by the Council that addresses the key concerns of India.
“All Security Council members with one voice endorsed a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We are clear that there cannot be double standards and distinctions cannot be made,” he said.
The press statement issued by India’s Permanent Representative TS Tirumurti as the Council President for the month expressed “unwavering commitment to strengthening international cooperation to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.
It reaffirmed “that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed”.
It also called for strong measures to prevent terrorism financing.
Getting the unambiguous statement on terrorism approved by the fractured Council was a mark of the diplomatic leadership by India.
With Thursday’s meeting, India has successfully completed the three signature initiatives of its presidency, which were focused on maritime security, technology and peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism, Jaishankar said.
He said that the meetings came up with substantive and forward-looking outcomes, including a Security Council Resolution on protecting peacekeepers which demands punishment for crimes against peacekeepers.
Chaired UN Security Council briefing related to Counter Terrorism.
The Council’s unanimous position on terrorism threats, including from ISIL-Khorasan, is a clear message.
Vital to display zero tolerance of terrorism, no double standards, no distinction. pic.twitter.com/ZLyVvWri0a
Asked about the cross-border terrorism plaguing India, he recalled the country’s long experience with the menace and noted that he mentioned the dangers from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
In his speech he had said that the groups “continue to operate with both impunity and encouragement” and declared that the Council should “never countenance sanctuaries for terrorists or overlook their raising of resources”.
On relations with Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power, he said that the historical relations with the people of Afghanistan will continue.
Jaishankar call out countries protecting terrorists
Jaishankar said that the global community should call out the hypocrisy of countries that protect terrorists “with innocents’ blood on their hands”.
Speaking at the Security Council on the international threat of terrorism, he drew attention to the roles of Pakistan and China in providing support to terrorist groups without mentioning the two by name.
“Unfortunately, there are also some countries who seek to undermine or subvert our collective resolve to fight terrorism. This cannot be allowed to pass.
“When we see state hospitality being extended to those with innocents blood on their hands, we should never lack the courage to call out their double-speak,” Jaishankar said.
Terrorism.
In what is seen as a reference to Beijing’s attempts to protect individuals and groups linked to Pakistan-backed LeT and JeM, he said: “Don’t place blocks and holds on listing requests without any reason.”
Reiterating his action plan against terrorism, he said the Council in tackling terrorists and terrorist groups should “enlist and delist objectively, not on political or religious considerations”.
Jaishankar warned that “in our own immediate neighbourhood, ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL-K) has become more energetic and is constantly seeking to expand its footprint. Events unfolding in Afghanistan have naturally enhanced global concerns about their implications for both regional and international security”.
He called for early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism proposed by India. It has been blocked by some countries that try to defend some terrorists as “freedom-fighters”.
Jaishankar said, “Summon the political will: don’t justify terrorism, don’t glorify terrorists. No double standards. Terrorists are terrorists; distinctions are made only at our own peril.”
He said that despite the international efforts to tighten legal measures against financing terrorist organisations, they still receive money.
“The flow of funds has continued and rewards for killings are now even being paid in Bitcoins!”
Expressing his solidarity with all the victims of terrorism, Jaishankar said that while the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the US comes up next month, “the 2008 Mumbai terror attack is imprinted in our memories. The 2016 Pathankot air base attack and the 2019 suicide bombing of our policemen at Pulwama are even more recent”.
India, which is the current President of the UNSC, convened the meeting from its experience of being the historically the biggest contributor to peacekeeping operations having sent about 250,00 peacekeepers of whom 174 paid the supreme sacrifice, reports Arul Louis
India on Wednesday proposed a multi-pronged plan to bring UN peacekeeping operations to the 21st century by deploying technologies to face the evolving threats.
“UN peacekeeping simply cannot afford to cede the information advantage to those actors determined to undermine prospects for peace by using modern technology to aid their violent cause,” India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said at a Security Council debate on technology and peacekeeping.
“Twenty-first century peacekeeping must be anchored in a strong ecosystem of technology and innovation that can facilitate UN peacekeeping operations in implementing their mandates in complex environments. Because the nature of peacekeeping missions and their attendant threats have become more complex, it is vital that our capabilities to secure the peacekeepers keep pace,” he said.
Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that new technologies “pose unfamiliar and profound threats, as seen most clearly in the online proliferation of violent extremist ideologies, increasingly prevalent cyber-attacks, and deadly vaccine misinformation. Emerging technologies are also blurring the lines between war and peace”.
Citing a need for acknowledging the new threats, he said: “States and non-state actors are carrying out malicious acts that fall below commonly understood thresholds for the use of force yet may still have devastating impact.”
He added that it was, therefore, essential that UN peacekeeping “fully embraces the digital world in which we live, to improve the UN’s agility, anticipation and responsiveness to conflicts, and to be able to address the challenges of today and tomorrow”.
India, which is the current President of the Council, convened the meeting from its experience of being the historically the biggest contributor to peacekeeping operations having sent about 250,00 peacekeepers of whom 174 paid the supreme sacrifice.
The UN is introducing a technology-enhanced facility, UNITE Aware Platform for its peackeeping operations to provide realtime information to personnel.
Jaishankar said that India is supporting the rollout of the UNITE Aware Platform, which would enable an entire peacekeeping operation to be visualised, coordinated, and monitored on a real-time basis.
“We should ensure that any attack on a peacekeeper or a civilian is predictable, preventable, or responded to immediately,” he said.
Chaired the UNSC Open Debate on Technology and Peacekeeping.
As a country with a tradition of Peacekeeping and at forefront of Technology, proud to partner UN on a situational awareness platform-UNITE AWARE.
These are Jaishankar’s four-point programme for 21st century peacekeeping:
Focus on operationally proven, cost-effective, widely available, reliable and field-serviceable technologies.
Deploying a sound information and intelligence foundation to provide early warning and mobilisation of early response with precise positioning and overhead visualisation of mission environments.
Ensure that technological improvements are continuous and are available on the ground, “in the gear peacekeepers carry and the weapons and tools they use”.
Provide consistent training and capacity building of peacekeepers in the realm of technology needs attention and investment
“India is committed to long term engagement with the UNC4ISR Academy for Peace Operations in Entebbe, Uganda, to meet the training needs, link it with available technological capability, and shape future requirements,” Jaishankar said.
Though the details of the meeting were not shared, it is leant that the government’s highest decision making body discussed the tense security situation there, reports Asian Lite News
Amid the evolving situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the meeting.
Though the details of the meeting were not shared, it is leant that the government’s highest decision making body discussed the tense security situation there.
The government’s priority is to safely evacuate the remaining Indians left there and also ensure the security of Hindus and Sikhs there.
India has initiated various development projects in Afghanistan both by the government and the private sector and their future hangs in the balance due to the political developments in that country.
The main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.
In view of the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, the government decided that the Embassy personnel in Kabul would be immediately moved to India. This movement has been completed in two phases and the Ambassador and all other personnel reached New Delhi on Tuesday.
“We have been issuing periodic travel and security advisories for all Indian nationals in Afghanistan, given the deteriorating security situation there. Those already in Afghanistan were urged to return immediately while others were advised not to travel there,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
“Nevertheless, we understand that a number of Indians are stranded in that country, some of whom are employed by third country organisations. Our immediate priority is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently present in Afghanistan. They and/or their employers are requested to urgently share the relevant details with the MEA’s Special Afghanistan Cell,” the statement added.
“As regards Afghan nationals, our visa services will continue through an e-Emergency visa facility, which has been extended to Afghan nationals. We have already received requests from Afghan Sikh and Hindu community leaders, and we are in touch with them,” the MEA said.
Deve Gowda urges Centre to act ‘humane’ on Afghan crisis
Describing the ongoing chaos in Afghanistan as a “difficult moment for India”, Janata Dal (S) supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda on Tuesday appealed to the Central government to respond in a “humane manner”.
Taking to Twitter, Gowda, who served as Prime Minister from June 1, 1996, to April 21, 1997, said India should develop an independent policy towards Afghanistan, which has now come under the Taliban.
“Reports from Afghanistan show how fear and uncertainty have gripped the country. It is a difficult moment for India and the entire region,” the Rajya Sabha member said.
“We have to respond in a human manner besides developing an independent policy of fostering friendship and peace in our neighbourhood,” the JD-S supremo added.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over the Afghanistan crisis, Karnataka’s Energy and Kannada and Culture Minister, V. Sunil Kumar in his tweet stated that the inhuman Taliban has taken over the Afghanistan capital, leading to the suspension of women’s rights and the taking over of a radio station that now broadcasts Quran instead of music.
“Such fanaticism is exceeding the extreme limits. I pray for the defeat of fanaticism and the return of democracy,” Kumar said, slamming the Talibani regime in his tweet.
Iran to make efforts to stabilise Afghanistan: President Raisi
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that his country would make serious efforts to stabilise Afghanistan as the country’s government fell on Sunday and the Taliban took over the control, a media report said.
“The military defeat and pull out of the US from Afghanistan must be turned into an opportunity to revive life, security and sustainable peace in the country,” Tehran Times quoted Raisi as saying.
“Iran will make efforts for the stability of Afghanistan as today’s first need, and as a neighboring and brotherly country invites all groups to agree on a national consensus,” Raisi added, Tehran Times reported.
Tehran has been closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan.
On Tuesday, the Taliban in the first presser announced that “soon they will reach a settlement through which an Islamic government will be established in the country.
Reports from #Afghanistan show how fear and uncertainty have gripped the country. It is a difficult moment for India and the entire region. We have to respond in a humane manner besides developing an independent policy of fostering friendship and peace in our neighbourhood.
The meeting comes as India holds the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)….reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday reached New York to preside over two high-level meetings of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on UN peacekeeping and on terrorism.
Taking to Twitter, India permanent representative at the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said he is delighted to receive Jaishankar.
“Delighted to receive External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar in New York. EAM will chair two high-level meetings of UN #SecurityCouncil – on UN peacekeeping & on terrorism. He will participate in a ceremony at @UNPeacekeeping memorial along with UNSG @antonioguterres,” he tweeted.
The meeting comes as India holds the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
The first event on August 18, 2021, will be an open debate on ‘Protecting the Protectors: Technology and Peacekeeping’ while the second event on August 19, 2021, will be a high-level briefing on ‘Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts’.
Both these topics are priorities for India during its UNSC innings, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release.
The open debate on Peacekeeping will focus on the theme of ‘Protecting the Protectors’, including through the use of modern technological tools to enhance the safety and security of Peacekeepers and to aid Peacekeeping Missions to effectuate their mandates effectively and efficiently.
In this regard, India, in collaboration with the UN, would be rolling out the UNITE AWARE Platform, which is a situational awareness software programme that allows a Peacekeeping Operations Centre to visualise and analyse the ground situation in a conflict zone on a real-time basis.
This project aims to demonstrate the impact of modern surveillance technology on the detection of asymmetric threats. The aim is to improve camp security for UN peacekeepers, the overall security situation, and the quality of situational awareness.
India has partnered with the UN to roll out the UNITE Aware platform initially in four UN Peacekeeping Missions: MUNISMA (Mali), UNMISS (South Sudan), UNFICYP (Cyprus) and AMISOM (Somalia), read the release.
An MoU between the Government of India and the UN in support of the ‘Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping’ initiative is expected to be signed during the visit.
The executing agencies for this MoU would be the Center for UN Peacekeeping (CUNPK – on the Indian side) and UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) based in Entebbe (Uganda) on the UN’s side, added the release.
On 19 August, EAM would preside over a briefing session on the six-monthly report of the UN Secretary-General on the threat posed by Islamic State (ISIL/Da’esh), under the agenda item “Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts”, added the MEA release.
During this visit, Jaishankar would also have bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of other Member States on the sidelines of these UNSC high-level events. (ANI)
The Afghanistan envoy called for urgently establishing a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of those at risk of Taliban contributions and attacks….reports Asian Lite News
Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative to UN Ghulam M Isaczai on Monday said that situation in Kabul is “extremely worrying” and called for an immediate establishment of an inclusive and representative transitional government in the country.
Speaking at a special United Nations Security Council (UNSC) special session on Afghanistan, Isaczai expressed concern over the Taliban “not honouring the promises and commitments made in their statements at Doha and other international fora”.
The special session was held after the Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday and taking control of the Presidential Palace. India holds the presidency of the UNSC this month.
The Afghanistan envoy called for urgently establishing a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of those at risk of Taliban contributions and attacks.
“We have seen gruesome images of Taliban mass executions of military personnel and target killings of civilians in Kandahar and other big cities. We cannot allow this to happen in Kabul, which has been the last refuge for many people escaping violence and Taliban’s revenge attacks,” he said.
Isaczai said Kabul residents are reporting that the Taliban have already started house-to-house searches in some neighbourhoods, registering names and looking for people and their target list.
“There are already reports of targetted killings and looting in the city and Kabul residents are living in absolute fear right now,” he said.
The envoy said he was speaking on behalf of millions of people in Afghanistan, whose fate hangs in the balance, and are faced with an extremely uncertain future.
“I’m speaking for millions of Afghan girls and women who are about to lose their freedom to go to school, to work and to participate in the political, economic, and social life of the country,” he said.
The Afghanistan envoy said he was also speaking for thousands of human rights defenders, journalists, academics, civil servants, and former security personnel “whose lives are at risk for defending human rights and democracy”.
“I’m speaking for thousands of internally displaced people who are desperately in need of shelter, food, and protection in Campbell, and other places. As you’re witnessing yourself. The situation in Kabul, a city of about six million people is extremely worrying, to say the least,” he said.
The envoy said there is no time for blame game anymore.
“We have an opportunity to prevent further violence, prevent Afghanistan descending into a civil war and becoming a pariah state. Therefore, the Security Council, and the UN Secretary-General should use every means at their disposal to call for an immediate cessation of violence and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. Call on the Taliban to fully respect the gentle amnesty offered by them, cease targeted killing and revenge attacks and abide by international humanitarian laws,” he said.
The Afghan envoy said no public institutions and service delivery in infrastructure should be demolished, including works of arts in museums and media institutions and the Security Council should stress that anyone violating human rights of African citizens, and international humanitarian law will be held accountable.
Isaczai called on neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to open their borders and facilitate the exit of people trying to escape an entry of goods for humanitarian relief and operations.
He called “for the immediate establishment of an inclusive and representative transitional government, that includes all ethnic groups, and women representatives, which can lead to a dignified and lasting solution to the conflict, bring peace and preserve the gains of the last 20 years, especially for women and girls”.
He said the Security Council and the United Nations should not recognize any administration that “achieves power through force or any government that is not inclusive and representative of the diversity of the country” and unequivocally state “that it does not recognize the restoration of the Islamic Emirate as reaffirmed in previous council statement, and agreements, established international guarantees for the implementation of a future political agreement”.
Referring to the “chaotic scenes” at the Kabul International Airport as desperate citizens are trying to leave the country, he said, “We’re, we’re extremely concerned about Taliban’s not honouring the promises and commitments made in their statements at Doha and other international fora. We’ve witnessed time and again how Taliban have broken their promises and commitments in the past”.
He called for mobilising urgent humanitarian assistance for the 18 million people of Afghanistan, particularly those displaced by the current conflict and noted that the UN humanitarian appeal at $1.3 billion remains 40 per cent funded. (ANI)
Her response comes after Pakistan was retained in the red list of countries at the latest coronavirus travel update while India was removed from it, reported The Express Tribune…reports Asian Lite News.
The British Government has retained Pakistan on the ‘red list’ of its travel advisory due to the ‘deteriorating Covid situation’ in the country.
UK senior health official JO Churchill, in a letter dated August 6 explained the reasons for keeping Pakistan on the red list of countries, reported The Express Tribune.
She said that UK’s Joint Biosecurity Centre continues to assess risk based on factors including incidence, trends in deaths/hospitalisations, exported cases as well as testing and test positivity rates.
Her response comes after Pakistan was retained in the red list of countries at the latest coronavirus travel update while India was removed from it, reported The Express Tribune.
The British government placed Pakistan and India on the red list on April 2 and 19, respectively. However, in an updated list, the government announced that India, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE would be moved to the amber list from August 8.
“In Pakistan, the combination of a deteriorating epidemiological situation, combined with low testing rates and limited genomic surveillance, presents a high risk that an outbreak of a new variant, or existing VoC [variant of concern], will not be identified before it is imported to the UK,” she said in a letter.
The UK health official said the current trajectory of the pandemic in Pakistan is also of particular concern.
“In the past seven days, the incidence of cases in Pakistan has increased by 87 per cent on the previous week (19 – 25 July). The incidence of deaths has increased by 75 per cent in that same period. Test positivity is high and rising, growing from 5.6 per cent on July 26 to 7.9 per cent on August 3,” read the letter.
Major cities like Karachi have reported positivity rates of up to 20 per cent, she added.
The red list of the countries means only the UK nationals and those with residency rights will be allowed to travel to the country if they stayed in Pakistan for the ten days before they arrive. The amber travel list means that returnees can quarantine at home, rather than in a hotel. (ANI)
