Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, delivered a stark warning on Monday regarding the escalating threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan territory. Speaking during a UN Security Council session focused on Afghanistan, he emphasized that the menace posed by terrorist activities in Afghanistan extends far beyond its immediate neighbors, threatening the broader region and potentially impacting global security.
Ambassador Ahmad pointedly criticized factions within the Taliban administration for their deliberate decision to provide shelter and active support to various terrorist organizations. These groups include the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army, the Majeed Brigade, Daesh Khorasan, Al-Qaeda, and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). He underscored that these entities have established safe havens within Afghanistan, from where they orchestrate cross-border infiltrations, violent assaults, and suicide bombings targeting Pakistan and other neighboring states.
Highlighting Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to foster peace and stability in Afghanistan, Ambassador Ahmad recalled the numerous initiatives undertaken by Islamabad. Pakistan has consistently engaged with the Taliban leadership through dialogue and diplomatic channels, facilitated humanitarian aid, extended bilateral trade incentives, relaxed visa restrictions, and actively participated in regional forums aimed at integrating Afghanistan more closely with its neighbors. Despite these constructive overtures, he lamented that the Taliban regime has failed to meet the expectations set by the international community, particularly in the areas of counter-terrorism, human rights, and inclusive governance as outlined in the Doha-III Process.
The Ambassador also drew attention to a disturbing surge in terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil since the Taliban assumed control. He revealed that Pakistan has endured thousands of casualties due to terrorism-related incidents, with a particularly tragic spike last month when over 175 innocent Pakistanis lost their lives in multiple suicide bombings. This alarming increase in violence, he asserted, is directly linked to the Taliban’s tacit or active complicity in harboring these militant groups.
In response to these threats, Pakistan has taken decisive defensive actions. Ambassador Ahmad detailed a targeted military operation conducted on February 21-22, during which Pakistani forces executed intelligence-driven strikes against seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the TTP, its affiliates, and ISIL-K in border regions. These operations were carried out with precision to minimize collateral damage. However, tensions escalated further when, on February 26, the Taliban openly announced their intent to engage in hostilities against Pakistan, initiating unprovoked firing and shelling along multiple border points. Exercising its right to self-defense, Pakistan retaliated against hostile positions and logistical hubs used by terrorist factions. The Ambassador stressed that these countermeasures were carefully planned, proportionate, and strictly targeted at terrorist infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Ahmad made it clear that Pakistan will persist with its counter-terrorism efforts to safeguard its citizens, territory, and sovereignty. He affirmed that operations aimed at dismantling terrorist capabilities and their support networks will continue until the threat is effectively neutralized. This firm stance reflects Pakistan’s commitment to regional security despite the complex challenges posed by the Taliban’s policies.
Beyond security concerns, the Ambassador shed light on the dire humanitarian and socio-economic conditions faced by ordinary Afghans under Taliban rule. He described how the population suffers under harsh restrictions, compounded by international sanctions, a crippled banking system, dwindling foreign aid, widespread poverty, ongoing terrorism, narcotics trafficking, and persistent human rights abuses. These factors, he argued, are a direct consequence of the Taliban’s reckless governance and misplaced priorities, which have further destabilized Afghanistan’s fragile society.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Ahmad appealed to the global community to maintain sustained engagement with Afghanistan. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for the UN-led Doha Process and its Mosaic approach, which seeks to address Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges through a comprehensive, realistic roadmap with clear objectives. However, he cautioned that without genuine cooperation and reciprocity from the Taliban regime, progress toward lasting peace will remain elusive.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s unique stake in Afghanistan’s stability, the Ambassador stated that no country desires peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan, nor has any suffered more from the fallout of decades of conflict. He urged the Taliban to take concrete steps to ensure their territory is not exploited as a base for terrorism against neighboring states and to actively deny sanctuary to terrorist groups and their proxies. This, he insisted, is essential for fostering regional peace and security.
