NEW YORK: Pakistan has expressed serious concern about terrorist groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) acquiring sophisticated small arms.
Speaking at the fourth review conference of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram called for an investigation into the sources of these weapons. He stressed the need for a global effort to recover such arms and prevent their illicit trade and diversion.
Highlighting the need for a concerted campaign to recover all weapons from terrorist groups like the TTP, the Pakistan UN envoy stated that it is the responsibility of all States and the UN at large to take measures to prevent the illicit trade, transfer, and diversion of these arms.
“Terrorists and criminals do not manufacture these arms. They acquire them from illicit arms markets or receive them from entities that want to destabilize a particular region or country,” Ambassador Akram emphasized.
He drew the world’s attention to how the illicit proliferation, excessive accumulation, and misuse of SALW are exacerbating conflicts, fueling terrorism, threatening peace and security, and undermining sustainable development globally.
He also identified the advent of new technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones, as deepening challenges in combating the proliferation of increasingly lethal small arms.
Ambassador Akram described the UN Programme of Action (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) as representing an enduring international consensus and a structured framework to address the challenges associated with the unauthorized and illicit trade and trafficking of SALW.
He reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to the PoA and ITI, stating, “We have strengthened our legislative frameworks, enhanced transfer controls, and implemented robust measures to prevent the diversion of SALW to unauthorized users.”
Pointing out the limitations of a supply-side approach to tackling the SALW challenges, he called for more strenuous efforts and resources to be deployed to resolve and end conflicts in various regions and sub-regions, end terrorist activities, and eliminate organized crime.
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