Mr. President,

It is often said that the United Nations is about acting together to defend the dignity intrinsic to all human beings by fostering sustainable peace; and it is said that at the United Nations the objective is to work together in solidarity to assist other members of the human family in need. If this is indeed so, then today's annual debate on the situation in Afghanistan affords us an opportunity to introspect and take stock of whether our actions towards a valued Member State and its brave people conform to the lofty values and goals that we cherish and profess.

Mr. President,

2.    It is usual to begin statements on Afghanistan by highlighting the number of civilians including innocent women and children who are killed in numerous attacks every day. There are, however, innumerable inspiring stories of common men and women of Afghanistan trying to make a difference in the most trying of situations. Stories which get overtaken by news of death and destruction.

3.    How many of us know that well-endowed Afghan lifters picked up 8 medals in  an International  Powerlifting Championship  held earlier during the year? How many of us have heard of the innovation of two young Afghan brothers - Massoud and Mahmud Hassani - who have designed a low-cost drone, called Mine Kafon to detect and destroy mines in their country and beyond? How many sports enthusiasts amongst us can pinpoint that the only country which beat the eventual winners of the World T-20 Cricket Championship this year was Afghanistan?

4.    These stories of common Afghans trying to excel and bring joy and succor to their fellow countrymen and women are not reflected in numbers and percentage points. Each month the percentage of children killed, attacks on civilians and schools goes up, we witness the silencing of many of the voices who could have, if alive, transformed the future of Afghanistan.

5.    We are, therefore, alarmed at the expansion of the war theatre in Afghanistan and the significant increase in the number of casualties suffered by the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) in recent months. We offer our sincere condolences at the loss of lives and destruction of property in several terrorist attacks in Afghanistan that have killed and maimed hundreds of innocent people, including the recent attacks at the US airbase in Bagram and German Consulate in   Mazar-e-Sharif.

Mr. President

6.    The commitments made at the Brussels Conference reflect the international community's willingness to pursue and broaden engagement with Afghanistan as per the needs of the Afghan people.

7.    At the Conference, India has committed a further sum of USD 1 billion for capacity building in education, health, agriculture, skill development, empowerment of women, energy, infrastructure and strengthening of democratic institutions.

8.    Even as we collectively exert efforts aimed at rebuilding institutions, infrastructure and networks in Afghanistan through cooperative endeavors there are those  who  aim to  destroy and undermine what is being rebuilt. Groups and individuals that perpetrate violence against the people and the Government of Afghanistan operate from shadowlands entirely outside the fabric of international law. They must not be allowed safe havens and sanctuaries in Afghanistan's neighbourhood. Our collective efforts on this front will go a long way in promoting sustainable peace in Afghanistan.
 

9.    Resolution A/71/L.13 to be adopted today has very encouraging  language  on  regional  cooperation   and connectivity. India believes and is committed to working with Afghanistan and regional countries on restoring a central role for Afghanistan as the land bridge of our region. It is with this goal that India chose Amritsar as the city to host the Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference next month. Amritsar sits on one of Asia's oldest and longest major routes dating back to the 2nd century B.C. Five centuries ago, the modern version of this road was built from Kabul to Kolkata by the Indo-Afghan King Sher Shah Suri. The same road, even today, can be a major artery running through India, across Pakistan and on to Afghanistan. Those with narrow mindsets need to open their hearts and allow arterial roads to be used for Afghan trade to and from everywhere in the region.

Mr. President,

10.    The security challenges faced by the Afghan people and Government have not receded. We note that Afghanistan, along with the Resolute Support Force, continues to make efforts to combat terrorism. However, the shadowy supporters of some of these terrorist organizations like the Taliban, Haqqani  Network, ISIS, Al-Qaeda and its designated affiliates such as Lashkar-e- Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed have not been deterred, as is reflected in the upwards trend in the toll of causalities.

11.    The United Nations must do more to send the right message. Inconsistent implementation of sanctions on some of these terrorist eats away at the UN's authority and needs to be addressed. The leader of the Taliban - a proscribed entity - needs to be designated as a terrorist individual. The international community is impatient for action. Earlier this week, President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan himself asked a delegation of the UNSC Sanctions Committee to include this person, and such others, in the list of terrorists. Unless the Security Council and its subordinate organs are part of a cohesive response to global terrorism they run the risk of becoming marginalized from the most fundamental security priorities of Member States whose fabric is being torn as under by terrorists.
 

12.    Afghanistan National Unity Government has India's full support for strengthening its defense capabilities. We believe that the international community should  stand by the Government in these difficult times.

13.    We believe that the path to reconciliation in Afghanistan should be through an Afghan- led and Afghan-owned process in adherence to the internationally accepted red lines, reflecting the aspirations of the people of Afghanistan. At the same time, peace and the peace process cannot be an endless wait. An immediate cessation of violence is necessary and the international community must sharpen its efforts for the peace and reconciliation process to deliver and do so quickly. We have to preserve and consolidate the gains made by the people of Afghanistan in the last decade and a half.

Mr. President

14.    We applaud the role of UNAMA. It is providing assistance in various sectors, even as Afghanistan is witnessing one of the largest influx of returning refugees, while its security challenges are becoming more complex. However, UNAMA must also squarely confront the difficulties that continue in Afghanistan on account of safe havens and sanctuaries that terrorists continue to enjoy beyond Afghanistan's borders.

Mr. President

15.    I would like to conclude by reiterating our hopes and wishes for the people of Afghanistan who continue to strive for excellence in their cities and spaces ridden with war and conflict. India reposes its full faith in the brave and resilient people of Afghanistan. We also lend our full support to the international community's efforts in furtherance of the positive values and progressive agenda that it is being pursued in Afghanistan.