Pakistan Alerts UN About Afghan-Based Terror Threats

Pakistan Warns UN About Terror Threats From Afghanistan

Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the UN General Assembly that terrorists from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are still trying to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan.

He also said Pakistan has proof that TTP is working together with other militant groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to attack important development projects in Pakistan.

UN Resolution on Afghanistan

The UN passed a resolution asking the Taliban in Afghanistan to:

Respect human rights

Follow international law

Take strong steps against terrorism

The UN also showed serious concern about the presence of dangerous terrorist groups in Afghanistan, like:

Al-Qaeda

Islamic State (ISIL/Daesh and ISIL-Khorasan)

TTP

Out of 193 countries, 116 voted in favor, 12 didn’t vote, and 2 voted against (Israel and the US). Pakistan supported the resolution, while India stayed neutral.

UN’s Concerns About Afghan Women
The resolution also criticized the Taliban’s actions against women and girls. It said the Taliban must stop banning them from education, jobs, and public life.

Pakistan’s Concerns and Suggestions
Ambassador Asim said that even though the war in Afghanistan has ended, people there are still suffering because of:

Sanctions

Banking and cash problems

Poverty

Lack of aid

Drug issues

Human rights violations

Terrorism

He said the Afghan land is still being used by terrorists to attack other countries, especially Pakistan.

What Should Be Done?
Asim Iftikhar said Afghanistan should not be left alone. He welcomed UN talks like the Doha Process and called for a complete and fair plan that addresses all issues, including concerns of nearby countries.

He also asked the world to fully fund the $2.42 billion Humanitarian Plan for 2025, which currently has only 15.7% of funds.

Refugee Burden on Pakistan
The ambassador reminded the world that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades. Since August 2021, another 1 million undocumented Afghans have entered Pakistan, causing law and order problems.

He said the international community should share this burden fairly.

Afghan Economy and Trade
He also asked the world to help rebuild Afghanistan’s economy, including:

Unfreezing Afghan funds held by the US

Supporting trade and investment

Pakistan, he said, wants to improve regional trade through projects like:

TAPI gas pipeline

CASA-1000 electricity project

Railway link with Uzbekistan and Afghanistan

Extension of CPEC to Afghanistan

Terror Threats From Afghanistan
The ambassador said there is only one group—the Taliban—that controls Afghanistan, and efforts to fight or isolate them could create a new war.

He warned that:

Terrorists are hiding in ungoverned areas of Afghanistan

These groups are a serious threat to Pakistan

TTP, with about 6,000 fighters, is the biggest UN-designated terrorist group in Afghanistan

TTP works closely with ISIL-K and others, which makes the threat even bigger

He said advanced weapons left behind by international forces have been found in Pakistan, and they have been used in recent terrorist attacks.

Final Message
Ambassador Asim said Pakistan:

Will continue to defend itself

Wants the Taliban to respect women’s rights and include all people in politics and society

Supports education for Afghan youth, including 4,500 students in Pakistan, one-third of whom are girls

He ended by saying:
“Force didn’t bring peace in Afghanistan. Sanctions and pressure won’t either. They could cause more war, poverty, and refugees, which nearby countries like Pakistan can’t handle.”