13th
Statement by Pakistan
Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to
Amended Protocol II to the CCW
11 November 2011
Mr. President,
Let me first express our pleasure in seeing you presiding over the
Thirteenth Annual Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol on
Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices,
as Amended on 3 May 1996. We also wish to felicitate China, Dominican Republic
and Romania on their election as Vice-Presidents of the 13th Conference. We are
certain that your leadership would guide us to a successful outcome. Towards this
end, we pledge to you, our full support and cooperation.
It would also be opportune to thank the two coordinators for their tireless
efforts in providing useful insight on their respective subjects by organizing
informative discussions during the Open-Ended meeting of the Group of Experts.
Mr. President,
Pakistan has been a State Party to Amended Protocol-II since 1999 and
remains totally committed to its full implementation. We continue to believe that
the human suffering resulting from the indiscriminate use of mines, booby traps
and other devices can only be minimized if the maximum number of states
commits themselves to the successful implementation of the Protocol. Intensive
and focused efforts are therefore required towards universalization of AP-II. The
Protocol’s strength lies in the balance it creates between the humanitarian
concerns and legitimate security imperatives of States. While preserving and
strengthening this aspect, all efforts should be made to expand the membership
of this Protocol.
Mr. President,
Pakistan remains in full compliance with the provisions of the Amended
Protocol II. Our Armed Forces have fully incorporated, at all levels, the
requirements mandated by the technical annex of Amended Protocol-II. We have
regularly submitted our National Annual Reports, including the report for 2011.
At present, there are no un-cleared mines in Pakistan’s territory. However,
in the spirit of cooperation and assistance, our armed forces, being the largest
contributor to UN peace keeping operations, have been successfully undertaking
de-mining operations in various parts f the world. We remain committed to
providing all assistance that we can, within our national capacity to help global
demining efforts.
Mr. President,
Pakistan accords special importance to the issue of Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs) as it has been a victim of a score of terrorist attacks employing
these devices. Not just our armed forces, but our civil administration as well as
the civilian population have suffered casualties due to the indiscriminate and
lethal effects of IEDs. We, therefore, consider it important to identify ways in
which the development of IEDs can be eliminated and the access of terrorists to
such devices can be prevented.
Mr. President,
We note with interest the development of new technologies that have the
potential to protect civilians against indiscriminate effects of mines. Such
technologies can be of immense benefit in preventing the injurious,
indiscriminate and lethal effects of mines. We, therefore, urge the states in
possession of such technologies to share their know-how with other states parties
in order to help minimize the humanitarian impact of mines, booby-traps and
other devices. Indeed the transfer and sharing of technology and experience,
within the framework of this Protocol, is an important step towards achieving our
common objectives and goals.
Thank you, Mr. President.