On June 8, 2026, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, exercised the right of reply during a UN Security Council session focused on Afghanistan. He firmly dismissed accusations made by the Afghan representative and launched a strong critique of India’s stance in the region.
Following interventions from various Council members, Ambassador Ahmad clarified that Pakistan’s recent counterterrorism strikes inside Afghanistan, including those in March, were narrowly targeted at terrorist and military support infrastructures used by groups launching attacks on Pakistan. He emphasized that these operations focused on drone storage sites, technical support facilities, and ammunition depots, explicitly excluding civilian targets.
He stressed that no hospitals, drug rehabilitation centers, or other civilian facilities were hit. To support this, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information promptly released video footage of all six strikes, showing secondary explosions consistent with ammunition storage. Ambassador Ahmad dismissed opposing narratives as unfounded propaganda lacking factual basis.
During the Council discussion, informed by the Secretary-General’s report, broad international expectations were reiterated regarding the Afghan Taliban regime. These included demands for inclusive governance, respect for human rights—especially those of women and girls—and a commitment to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorism against other nations. Ambassador Ahmad noted widespread concern and calls for compliance on these matters.
In response to the Indian representative’s intervention, Ahmad accused India of exploiting the platform to undermine Pakistan under the pretext of humanitarian and development concerns. He alleged that India’s primary objective is destabilizing Pakistan by supporting terrorist organizations such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), also referred to as Fitna al Hindustan.
While the Afghan representative condemned terrorism originating from Afghan soil targeting Pakistan, Ambassador Ahmad pointed out India’s failure to do so. He described India’s recent expressions of support for the Taliban as a strategic shift aimed at countering Pakistan’s successful operations against terrorist hideouts allegedly backed by Indian elements.
Further, Ambassador Ahmad accused India of a broader pattern of hostility, including support for terrorism beyond Pakistan’s borders and reported extraterritorial activities. He reminded the Council of India’s “illegal occupation” of Jammu and Kashmir, documented human rights abuses there, and its treatment of minorities within its own territory.
Contrasting India’s invocation of international law, democracy, and sportsmanship with its actual record, Ahmad cited alleged violations of Security Council resolutions and the Indus Waters Treaty. He urged India to undertake introspection, cease policies of aggression, subversion, and sabotage against neighboring countries, and focus on resolving its domestic issues rather than spreading misinformation.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Ahmad affirmed that Pakistan would continue to take all necessary measures in self-defense to protect its national security. This right of reply took place amid ongoing tensions over cross-border militancy and divergent regional perspectives on the Afghan situation.
