Pakistan warns UN of a growing terror threat from Afghanistan, highlighting direct links between Afghan-based terrorist outfits as well as rising violence within Pakistan. Addressing the UN General Assembly, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, provided credible intelligence on the collaboration between Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Balochistan Liberation Army, and the Majeed Brigade. According to him, these groups are attacking the infrastructure and development projects in Pakistan using safe havens in Afghanistan.
Ambassador Ahmad emphasized that these militant groups are using ungoverned territories in Afghanistan to attack. His comments follow a sudden increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan over the past few weeks.
Advanced Attacks using Abandoned Weapons
On 28 June, a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden truck into a military convoy in North Waziristan killing 16 soldiers and injuring several civilians. Just a few days after, a roadside bomb in Bajaur killed five senior government officials, including an Assistant Commissioner, on a routine field visit.
Pakistan warns UN that numerous such attacks have been conducted with sophisticated weapons and military equipment abandoned by international forces after they withdrew in Afghanistan in 2021.
The ambassador said that Afghan-based terrorists have used these weapons to mount more and more sophisticated attacks on Pakistan in the past two weeks.
Terror Networks in Afghan Territory
Ambassador Ahmad identified the TTP as the largest UN-listed terrorist group in Afghanistan, commanding around 6,000 fighters. According to him, the group poses a significant threat to not only Pakistan but also the whole region and beyond.
He also cited the existence of IS-Khorasan, Al Qaeda and various Baloch separatist groups based in Afghanistan.
He said, Afghanistan should not be a source of terrorists who pose a threat to the neighbouring nations and the international community. Pakistan cautions UN that unless these factors are dealt with, the conflict may flare up in the region. He called upon the international and regional community to act swiftly to destroy such networks.
Negotiations with Afghanistan
The same day, Pakistan and Afghanistan had the initial additional secretary-level dialogue, after Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul in April. Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani represented Pakistan, and Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor led the Afghan delegation.
The talks involved trade, security, transit cooperation, and connectivity. Both parties recognized terrorism as a significant barrier to regional growth, and peace.
The Pakistani delegation repeated the necessity of decisive measures against terrorist organizations that are present on the territory of Afghanistan, threatening that their further existence will negatively affect bilateral relations and the development of the region.
Enhancing Trade & Economic Connections
Besides the security issues, the two parties discussed trade facilitation measures. These were the elimination of a 10 percent processing fee, insurance guarantees, shorter inspection times, and the complete adoption of the track and trace system.
The discussions ended with a common pledge to enhance regional collaboration in economic and security fronts.
Pakistan warns UN that it must act now to neutralise the terror threat posed by Afghanistan. As there is evidence of increasing attacks and cross border coordination, Pakistan urges concerted global and regional action to prevent these extremist elements before they destabilise the wider region.
