9/11 anniversary: Pakistan calls for eschewing ‘double standards’ to curb terrorism

Pakistan on the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks urged the global community to “eschew double standards” if it wants to completely eradicate terrorism.

“In order to completely eradicate terrorism, it is vital to eschew double standards, myopic and selective approaches and vested, narrow political agendas,” said the Foreign Office (FO) in a statement.

On the anniversary of the deadly attack, FO said that Pakistan remembers and prays for those who lost their lives when two planes crashed into the World Trade Centre.

“We reiterate our strong condemnation of those horrific events and reaffirm our support and solidarity for the families and loved ones of the innocent victims,” said the FO. It also paid tribute to all victims of terrorism around the world including men, women, the elderly and children.

“The events of 11 September 2001 remind us of the dangers the world confronts in the form of terrorism and its devastating effects,” said the FO.

Pakistan said that ever since the 9/11 attacks the international community has fought together against terrorism but warned that the “complex challenges” remain. It added that to deal with the challenge there is a need to further strengthen “international resolve and unity to prevent and counter-terrorism.

Pakistan also urged the world community to counter state terrorism against people living under foreign occupation in disputed territories.

“It is also imperative to comprehensively address the root causes of terrorism,” said the FO.

The FO reiterated that terrorism has no justification. However, it explained that “any attempts to associate terrorism with any particular people, nationality, civilization, religion, race or ethnicity are condemnable”.

“The new and emerging threats in the form of right-wing, Islamophobia, domestic, racially or ethnically motivated and other forms of extremist tendencies leading to terrorism necessitate effective responses around the world,” said the FO.

In its condemnation, Pakistan reminded everyone of its “active” partnership with the international community in the fight against terrorism.

“Pakistan has played a leading role in this struggle and has demonstrated its earnest commitment through unprecedented sacrifices in the form of over 80,000 casualties and economic losses of over $150 billion. No other country in modern history has played a matching role in combating terrorism,” said the FO.

On a solemn day, FO also condemned the terrorist attacks that have taken place in Pakistan. It especially mentioned the attacks that have taken place in Pakistan that were planned and supported from across the country’s borders over the past few months.

“Pakistan has exposed the planners, supporters and financiers of terrorist incidents committed on its soil and will continue to do so in future,” said the FO. It also reiterated Islamabad’s resolve to continue its efforts for consolidating the gains achieved in the fight against terrorism.

“Pakistan will continue to play its rightful role in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and the maintenance of peace and security in the region and beyond,” said the FO.

US honors 9/11 dead on 20th anniversary of attacks

America is observing the 20th anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday with solemn ceremonies given added poignancy by the recent chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and return to power of the Taliban.

Heart-wrenching commemorations will unfold at each of the three sites where 19 Al-Qaeda hijackers — mostly from Saudi Arabia — crashed packed airliners, striking the cultural, financial and political hearts of the United States and changing the world forever.

The memorials come with US troops finally gone from Afghanistan, but national discord — and for President Joe Biden, political peril — are overshadowing any sense of closure.

At New York’s Ground Zero, where two pools of water now stand where the Twin Towers used to, relatives will read out the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed, in a four-hour-long service starting at 8:30 am.

Six moments of silence will be observed, corresponding with the times the two World Trade Center towers were struck, and fell, and the moments the Pentagon was attacked and Flight 93 crashed.