On Tuesday, Pakistan urged the international community and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to prioritize the issue of terrorism originating from and within Afghanistan.
The 15-member Council approved a resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for one year.
Pakistan’s permanent Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, informed the Security Council on Monday: “The Taliban government has been ineffective in eradicating ISIS/Daesh; it has permitted various other terrorist organizations and is complicit in cross-border assaults against Pakistan by the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), along with the BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) and its Majeed Brigade.”
Munir Akram elucidated the cross-border assaults originating from Afghan territory, highlighting the recent lethal attack by the BLA and the Majeed Brigade on the Peshawar-bound train, Jafferabad Express.
“During the assault, the terrorists maintained direct communication with their ‘handlers’ in Afghanistan, from which the attack was orchestrated and directed,” Ambassador Akram informed delegates, adding, “We also possess evidence that this attack was instigated and funded by our primary adversary, utilizing its proxies in Afghanistan.”
Akram elaborated that the train attack and similar terrorist incidents were intended to destabilize Pakistan, specifically to hinder its collaboration with China and the execution of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The envoy expressed gratitude for the UNSC’s robust press statement regarding the assault on the “Jaffar Express,” highlighting that Council members emphasized the necessity of holding accountable the perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of these abhorrent acts of terrorism, and urged all states to “cooperate actively” with Pakistan in this endeavor.
He expressed “serious concern regarding the presence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan” and reiterated the demand that “the territory of Afghanistan must not be utilized to threaten or assault any nation, to orchestrate or finance terrorist activities, or to harbor and train terrorists,” and that “no Afghan group or individual should assist terrorists operating within the territory of any country.”
The resolution urged the Taliban to implement proactive steps against terrorism.
The Security Council and its Counter-Terrorism apparatus must undertake “active measures” to ensure the execution of the Security Council’s resolutions aimed at confronting the threat of terrorism originating from Afghanistan, specifically from ISIL-K, Al-Qaida, the TTP, BLA, and the Majeed Brigade, stated the Pakistani envoy.
“These terrorist organizations represent a significant threat to peace and security in Afghanistan, the region, and worldwide.” Akram concluded by stating that Pakistan will suggest specific measures to facilitate the United Nations in attaining its counter-terrorism objectives.
