- Taliban elements “chose the path of complicity” with TTP, BLA and Daesh Khorasan.
- Pakistan has lost thousands of lives; 175 dead last month in attacks.
- Anti-terrorist 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, said at a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Ahmad highlighted that elements within the Taliban regime have “chosen the path of complicity and active support” for terrorist groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (TTP), Majeed Brigade, Daesh Khorasan, Al-Qaeda and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which enjoy safe havens in Afghanistan from where they launch infiltrations cross-border movements, violent attacks and suicides. bombings.
“As an immediate neighbor, to ensure a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, Pakistan regularly facilitated dialogue and interaction with the Taliban authorities,” the Ambassador said, noting that Pakistan had introduced initiatives, assisted in humanitarian aid, 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 they have “unfortunately failed in all three aspects” of the international community’s expectations under the Doha-III Process: counterterrorism, human rights and inclusive governance.
The statement also cited recent attacks coming from Afghanistan. “Pakistan has since witnessed a rise 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 terror-related incidents since the Taliban took power, and just last month, more than 175 innocent Pakistani lives were lost, including three suicide attacks,” he said.
Highlighting Pakistan’s defensive actions, the Ambassador said, “After showing utmost restraint, on February 21 and 22, Pakistan carried out intelligence-based targeted strikes against seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the TTP and its affiliates and ISIL-K in the border regions with precision and accuracy. But on February 26, the Taliban publicly declared its decision to initiate hostilities against Pakistan across multiple border locations with firing and unprovoked bombings of border posts and military installations. In exercise of its right to self-defense, Pakistan took retaliatory measures against hostile targets and logistical bases used by terrorist groups. Our actions have been proportionate, based on careful planning with necessary due diligence and directed only against identified terrorist camps and support bases.
Ambassador Ahmad warned that Pakistan will continue defensive measures for the protection of its citizens, territory and sovereignty. “Our counterterrorism operations will continue as long as necessary to degrade the combat capabilities of terrorist groups and supporting infrastructure,” he said.
He also drew attention to the internal situation in Afghanistan, pointing out the suffering of ordinary Afghans under the restrictions of the Taliban. “Ordinary and vulnerable Afghans are suffering from the Taliban’s inhumane restrictions and misplaced priorities. Sanctions, a dysfunctional banking system, depletion of foreign aid, poverty, terrorism, narcotics and human rights violations weigh heavily on Afghanistan’s socioeconomic landscape, a direct result of the Taliban’s reckless behavior,” the Ambassador said.
Addressing the broader international community, he called for continued commitment to stabilizing Afghanistan. “Pakistan has consistently advocated for sustained engagement with Afghanistan. We look forward to the next steps of the UN-led Doha Process and the action plan for its mosaic approach, to address Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges comprehensively, with well-defined objectives and a realistic roadmap as the only viable path towards lasting peace in Afghanistan. Without reciprocity from the Afghan Taliban regime, we fear we will get nowhere,” he said.
Ambassador Ahmad concluded by highlighting Pakistan’s role and its expectations regarding the Taliban. “No country wants 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 terrorism against neighboring countries and take demonstrable steps to deny space to terrorist groups and their proxies,” he said.
