Envoy Asim Iftikhar says critics ignored terror threats from Afghan soil, defends Pakistan’s counterterrorism actions
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, speaking at the UN Security Council on Afghanistan PHOTO: X
Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad has sharply criticized comments by Afghan and Indian representatives during a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, accusing them of ignoring the threat of cross-border militancy against Pakistan.
Speaking during the council session on Monday, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, acting chargé d’affaires of Afghanistan’s permanent mission to the United Nations, referred to civilian casualties in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and stressed the importance of combating terrorism.
However, Faiq did not mention Al-Qaeda or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said he had been “forced to speak again” after hearing statements from the Afghan and Indian delegations.
One can feel India’s pain as it sees its heavy investment in the Afghan terror franchise being wasted as a result of Pakistan’s precise and effective action against terror camps and support bases inside Afghanistan. And the world doesn’t need sermons from a serial offender… pic.twitter.com/4u7PLaMV3q
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) March 10, 2026
Referring to the Afghan representative, he said that “the so-called representative of Afghanistan…represents no one but himself” and should not “abuse this forum to pursue his personal agenda.”
Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, the Taliban, are not represented at the UN and do not recognize Faiq.
The envoy added that the diplomat, who he said was “sequestered in New York”, was “completely isolated from the realities on the ground” and had selectively commented on developments while criticizing Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s legitimate counter-terrorism operations are not directed against the brotherly people of Afghanistan,” he said, adding that the actions were aimed at “neutralizing the persistent threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil” and were carried out in accordance with the right to self-defense and international humanitarian law.
Additional statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad,
Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN,
In response to statements by the representatives of India and Afghanistan
At the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan
(March 9, 2026)
***********Thank you Madam President… pic.twitter.com/h3GZLl5sCn
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) March 10, 2026
He said the Afghan representative had not addressed attacks carried out from Afghan territory that had caused casualties among Pakistani civilians, security forces and infrastructure.
Turning to India, Ahmad said the comments made by the Indian representative were “not a surprise”, accusing India of pursuing a policy aimed at destabilizing Pakistan.
Read: The United States designates Afghanistan as a “State sponsoring unjust detentions”
Earlier, Permanent Representative of India Parvathaneni Harish, according to his post on X, also delivered a speech at the UN Security Council meeting. The envoy said India “strongly condemns the airstrikes which are flagrant violations of international law, the UN Charter and state sovereignty”, adding that it was “hypocritical to embrace the high principles of international law and Islamic solidarity while ruthlessly carrying out airstrikes during the holy month of Ramazan”.
He delivered India’s statement at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. Made the following 1️⃣0️⃣ points:
1️⃣India’s history of close ties with its adjacent neighbor Afghanistan guides us today, in a situation where the proud Afghan people need the world’s help.
2️⃣With… pic.twitter.com/QJFmaxqrlp
– Parvathaneni Harish (@AmbHarishP) March 10, 2026
He also expressed concern about what he described as “trade and transit terrorism,” warning that the vulnerabilities faced by landlocked developing countries should not be exploited.
Regarding the fight against terrorism, the representative called for coordinated global action against militant organizations operating in the region. He said groups such as Islamic State (ISIL), Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, along with their affiliates and facilitators, must be prevented from carrying out cross-border attacks.
Asim, in his speech, responded, alleging that India supported militant groups operating from Afghan territory, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
“We have provided irrefutable evidence of India’s collusion with terrorist groups engaged in orchestrating violent attacks against Pakistan,” he told the council.
Ahmad also criticized India for what he described as violations of international law and accused it of carrying out repression in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite the criticism, the Pakistani envoy said Islamabad remained committed to promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
However, she added that these goals required the country’s current rulers, the Taliban, to fulfill commitments to combat terrorism, inclusive governance and protect the rights of Afghan women and girls.
“While India has been playing this dangerous game for a long time, we will not allow its sabotage and subversion from Afghan soil to fuel and harm Pakistan,” Ahmad concluded.
