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Pakistan's concern over drone attacks highlighted at UNSCNEW YORK: Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations, Masood Khan has raised concern in the UN Security Council over US drone strikes.
Khan while speaking at the Security Council debate on Children and Armed Conflict said, “Pakistan believes that the use of armed drones violates sovereignty, causes civilian casualties, and puts communities at risk of reprisal attacks. Drone strikes radicalize disaffected communities and increase the number of terrorists. Urgent and intense negotiations are needed to address the issue of armed drones”.
Ambassador Masood Khan also highlighted the issue of children being used as suicide bombers and human shields. He expressed concern over continued targeting of schools, particularly affecting girls’ education. “Persistent perpetrators of violence against children must be brought to justice through national judicial systems and where applicable through the use of international justice mechanisms”, he demanded.
Ambassador Khan said that Pakistan wants to strengthen the political consensus around the mandate to ensure better protection of the rights of children in situations of armed conflict. For that purpose, the legal parameters of the mandate must be respected. Focus should continue to remain on situations of armed conflict and those threatening international peace and security, he added.
He appreciated SRSG Leila Zerroughi’s remarkable work, undertaken in pursuance of her mandate, to implement the international legal framework for the protection of children affected by armed conflict. With a firm, yet pragmatic, approach she is obtaining cooperation of states and regional organizations, he added.
Ambassador Masood Khan emphasized that children were the most valuable resource and that a society’s soul is reflected by the way it treats its children. He regretted that millions of children are trapped in wars and conflicts. “The children are killed, maimed, raped, and subjected to sexual violence. They are recruited, abducted and detained; and are coerced into becoming part of armed conflicts”, he said.
He said that while some progress has been made to slow down this scourge, especially in developing norms and standards much more needs to be done to ensure compliance, fight impunity and protect children’s rights.
Courtesy www.geo.tv