Pakistan accuses India of excluding it from Security Council debate on Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram said on Friday his country had requested to participate in a recent Security Council session on Afghanistan but was not allowed to join the proceedings.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, he specifically criticized India, the council president for the month of August, for excluding Pakistan from the ongoing international debate on Afghanistan.
"We made a formal request for participation but it was denied," he told a news conference at the UN Headquarters in New York. "Obviously, we do not expect fairness from the Indian presidency for Pakistan."
Akram categorically denied the accusation of the Afghan envoy that the Taliban "continue to enjoy a safe haven in and supply and logistic line extended to their war machine from Pakistan."
"We would never allow our soil to be used to destabilize Afghanistan and expect the same from Afghanistan," said the Pakistani diplomat.
"Terrorism possesses a huge challenge to Afghanistan, to its neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan," he continued. "Pakistan is especially concerned at the support being provided to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Jamat ul Ahrar by a third country."
Akram said Pakistan welcomed the international understanding that the best way to achieve peace in Afghanistan was through a political settlement, though he warned against spoilers "both inside and outside Afghanistan."
"Some [Afghan factions] are ... taking intransigent positions in negotiations," he said. "Some informally have become isolated from the realities and explain their plight by blaming others. Then there are spoilers outside who do not want a political settlement."
He also maintained that Pakistan was instrumental bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table and highlighted its efforts to facilitate peace in the war-torn country.
"We strongly believe that any military takeover or imposition by force of a government in Afghanistan will further aggravate and prolong the conflict," said the Pakistani diplomat.
Hours before Akram's news conference, Afghan Ambassador to the United Nations Ghulam Isaczai described the Taliban offensive as a "deliberate act of barbarism" while saying the insurgent group was getting support from networks like Al Qaeda and Daesh.
"This is not a civil war, but a war of criminalized and terrorist networks, fought on the back of Afghans," he maintained.
Isaczai claimed the Taliban were guilty of violating their agreement with the United States since they were not combating terrorist networks but benefiting by keeping close contacts with them.
The Pakistani ambassador, however, urged the Afghan factions to end the blame game.
"Ultimately, it is ... for the Afghans themselves to seize the moment to engage constructively and to work to secure a negotiated settlement," he added.

Pakistan accuses India of excluding it from Security Council debate on Afghanistan