NAM rejects Pak proposal to equate US attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan
Pakistan received a major diplomatic setback
when the Non-Aligned countries refused to toe its line on having one
comprehensive resolution on the US missile attack on Sudan and
Afghanistan, with a majority of countries feeling that the Taliban
regime was sponsoring terrorism the world over.
When the issue came up for discussions at the ministerial and
official level meetings of NAM, an overwhelming majority of
member countries felt that Washington's attack on militant camps in
Afghanistan cannot be equated with its strikes on Sudan.
While NAM is yet to formulate its response on attacks on
militant camps on Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden, it was already
agreed to condemn the US action on a pharmaceutical company in
Khartoum.
Pakistani representatives worked round the clock for the last few
days to convince and persuade NAM members to accept its proposal
for a common resolution on Afghanistan and Sudan, but there were
not many takers for their theory. After that Pakistan was left with no option
but to give up its efforts.
Interestingly, senior US officials who arrived in Durban
to seek observer status for their country, were overtly and covertly
lobbying for toning down of the NAM resolution on its attacks.
NAM in its resolution on the US attack on Sudan felt the
action was a ''serious violation of principles of international law
and the UN charter and contrary to the principles of peaceful settlement
of disputes.''
The resolution stated that ''such acts are a serious threat to
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan and to regional
stability and international peace and security.
''NAM condemns this act of aggression and continuing threats
made by us against Sudan.'' It urged Washington to refrain from such
unilateral acts.
NAM sources said India had played a vital role in delinking
the grouping's approach on attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan. The
Indian government believes the Taliban provides training in arms to mercenaries who operate in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Arab countries, which form a dominating group in NAM,
were eager to have a strongly worded resolution on Sudan, but most of
them were not keen to have an identical resolution on strikes
in Afghanistan.
India also received a boost when its consistent efforts to
mobilise international support for eradication of terrorism bore
fruit. NAM accepted the Egyptian proposal which called for an
international summit conference under the auspices of the United
Nations to formulate a joint organised response of the international
community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The Egyptian proposal is similar to India's position on
combating the menace of terrorism. India has proposed an
international action plan to fight and tackle terrorism.
While making its standpoint, the Indian representative said the
country was a serious victim of cross-border terrorism and hence was
keen that there should be a major initiative to fight terrorism
which posed a serious challenge to the sovereignty of a number of
countries.
The resolution said the UN organs should take appropriate
decisions, consistent with its charter, to fight and eradicate
terrorism. It emphasised that international cooperation to combat
this menace should be conducted in conformity with the principles of
the UN charter. It suggested strengthening of international legal
regimes for combating terrorism.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who arrived in Durban last night,
is expected to make a strong plea for coordinated action against
terrorism.
Interestingly, NAM has also expressed its serious concern on
the role of mercenaries in acts of terrorism. The concern vindicates
India's position that it is facing terrorism being exported and
executed by mercenaries from across its border in Jammu and
Kashmir.
UNI
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