- Taliban elements “have chosen the path of complicity” with the TTP, the BLA and Daesh Khorasan.
- Pakistan has lost thousands of lives; 175 dead last month in attacks.
- Counter-terrorism strikes carried out after Taliban attacks on border posts.
Terrorism emanating from Afghan soil poses a “serious threat not only to its immediate neighbors but also to the wider region and beyond”, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Ahmad highlighted that elements of the Taliban regime have “chosen the path of complicity and active support” to terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (TTP), the Majeed Brigade, Daesh Khorasan, Al-Qaeda and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which enjoy safe havens in Afghanistan from where they launch attacks. cross-border infiltrations, violent attacks and suicide attacks.
“As an immediate neighbor, in order to ensure a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, Pakistan has regularly facilitated dialogue and engagement with the Taliban authorities,” the ambassador said, noting that Pakistan had presented initiatives, assisted in humanitarian assistance, offered bilateral trade incentives, liberalized visa regimes and participated in regional platforms to help Afghanistan integrate into the region.
Despite these efforts, Ambassador Ahmad said that “unfortunately, they have failed on all three points” of the international community’s expectations under the Doha-III process: the fight against terrorism, human rights and inclusive governance.
The statement also cited recent attacks from Afghanistan. “Pakistan has since witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, planned, financed and orchestrated from Afghan soil under the direct watch of the Taliban regime. We have lost thousands of lives in terrorism-related incidents since the Taliban takeover, and last month, more than 175 innocent Pakistanis lost their lives, including in three suicide attacks,” he said.
Highlighting Pakistan’s defensive actions, the Ambassador said, “After exercising maximum restraint, on February 21-22, Pakistan carried out precisely and accurately, based on intelligence, selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the TTP and its affiliates and ISIL-K in the border areas. But on February 26, the Taliban publicly declared its decision to launch hostilities against Pakistan across several border points with unprovoked firing and shelling of border posts and military installations In exercising their right to self-defense, Pakistan took retaliatory measures against hostile targets and logistical bases used by terrorist groups. Our actions were proportional, based on careful planning with due diligence, and directed only against identified terrorist camps and support bases.
Ambassador Ahmad warned that Pakistan would continue its defensive measures to protect its citizens, territory and sovereignty. “Our counterterrorism operations will continue for as long as necessary to degrade terrorist groups’ combat capabilities and supporting infrastructure,” he said.
He also drew attention to Afghanistan’s internal situation, highlighting the suffering of ordinary Afghans under Taliban restrictions. “Ordinary and vulnerable Afghans are suffering from the Taliban’s inhumane restrictions and misplaced priorities. Sanctions, a dysfunctional banking system, drying up of foreign aid, poverty, terrorism, narcotics and human rights violations are taking a heavy toll on Afghanistan’s socio-economic landscape as a direct result of the Taliban’s reckless behavior,” the ambassador said.
Addressing the international community at large, he called for continued commitment to stabilize Afghanistan. “Pakistan has always advocated for sustained engagement with Afghanistan. We look forward to the next steps of the UN-led Doha Process and its action plan for its mosaic approach, aimed at comprehensively addressing Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges, with well-defined goals and a realistic road map as the only viable path towards lasting peace in Afghanistan. Without reciprocity from the Afghan Taliban regime, we fear we will not be able to get anywhere,” he said.
Ambassador Ahmad concluded by highlighting Pakistan’s role and expectations from the Taliban. “No country desires peace and stability in Afghanistan more than Pakistan. And no country has suffered more from the consequences of decades of conflict and instability in Afghanistan than Pakistan. The Taliban must above all ensure that its territory is not used for terrorist purposes against neighboring countries and take demonstrable steps to deny space to terrorist groups and their proxies,” he said.
