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Afghan leaders ask UNSC to mobilise global pressure on Pakistan: Haley
By Arul Louis
United Nations, Jan 17 (IANS) Afghanistan’s leaders have asked the Security Council to mobilise international pressure on Pakistan to stop supporting terrorists, United States Permanent Representative Nikki Haley said on Wednesday.
Meeting reporters here after the Council’s weekend visit to Afghanistan and meetings with the nation’s leaders, Haley said: “They asked for consensus on international pressure to get Pakistan to change its behaviour” in supporting terrorists.
“As long as there is support for terrorism in Pakistan, the Afghan community does not feel safe,” she added.
Council President Kairat Umarov, who led the mission, said, “Security Council members noted with concern the persistence of insecurity, especially the “intensification of terrorism activities in the north ans east of Afghanistan and the regrouping of foreign terrorist fighters coming out from Syria and Iraq.”
Asked about the Afghanistan leadership’s reactions to the US freezing security aid to Pakistan because it provides safe havens to terrorists, Haley deferred to Umarov.
Without going into the details, he said, “It was also part of the discussion. I would just like to underline that the discussions were more on the positive side.”
Echoing President Donald Trump, Haley asserted that the “US policy on Afghanistan is working”.
On Tuesday, Trump said that his South Asia strategy is “working far more rapidly than anybody would understand” in denying safe havens for terrorists in Afghanistan.
During the three-day visit from Saturday to Monday, Council members met Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, other officials, NGOs, representatives of political parties and the leaders of the US-let NATO mission there.
This was the first visit of Security Council to Afghanistan in about seven years. The last visit was in June 2010.
The latest visit came ahead of a high-level Council meeting on Afghanistan on Friday to be presided over by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov. Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and ministers of other countries are also expected at the meeting.
Haley said that the international community should support the peace process in Afghanistan because it is not just about that country and the region,”but it is about safety in the world” in containing terrorism.
She said that the US was not against the Afghan leaders having peace talks with the Taliban.
“What is most important that the US wanted to see is an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led policy,” she said. “And what was impressive is that the Afghan leadership is taking responsibilitya they don’t ask us for things, they tell us what they want.”
(Arul Louis can be reached at [email protected])
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.