Pakistan has warned of immense dangers to peace and security emanating from terrorists operating on Afghan soil, saying thousands of militants and 60 terrorist camps in the landlocked country pose a serious threat. threat from Afghanistan
Terrorist entities, including ISIL-K/Da’esh, Al-Qaeda, TTP, BLA and its Majeed Brigade are among the groups that operate from Afghan sanctuaries, with more than 60 such terrorist camps serving as hubs for enabling cross-border infiltration and attacks, a top Pakistani diplomat told the United Nations Security Council. threat from Afghanistan
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the U.N. said terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains the “gravest threat” to Pakistan’s national security. threat from Afghanistan
“The TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan), with nearly 6,000 fighters, remains the largest UN-designated terrorist group on Afghan soil,” he said in a debate on the situation in Afghanistan. threat from Afghanistan
The Taliban authorities must also fulfill their international obligations on counter terrorism. Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains the gravest threat to Pakistan’s national security. Terrorist entities including ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda, TTP, ETIM, BLA and the Majeed Brigade… pic.twitter.com/bUeZBwxoXl
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) September 17, 2025
Recently, Pakistan thwarted multiple infiltration attempts of TTP and BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) terrorists from across Afghanistan, confiscating significant caches of sophisticated military grade modern equipment left behind by international forces in Afghanistan– mainly weapons abandoned by the departing U.S. troops.
“These efforts come at a heavy price – huge sacrifices by our valiant security forces and civilians,” the ambassador said, referring to loss of 12 Pakistani soldiers in a single incident just this month. threat from Afghanistan
“This situation is intolerable,” the Pakistani envoy told the 15-member Council.
“We have credible evidence of collaboration among these terrorist groups through joint training, illicit weapons trade, refuge to terrorists, and coordinated attacks – all aimed at targeting civilian and law enforcement agencies and disrupting and sabotaging infrastructure and development projects in Pakistan.” threat from Afghanistan
“The TTP, with nearly 6,000 fighters, remains the largest UN-designated terrorist group on Afghan soil. Pakistan has successfully thwarted multiple infiltration attempts of TTP and BLA terrorists from across Afghanistan, confiscating significant caches of… pic.twitter.com/4WUw8BAoKW
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) September 18, 2025
Ambassador Iftikhar Ahmad called for swift action on the proposal by China and Pakistan in the UNSC’s 1267 Sanctions Committee to designate the BLA and Majeed Brigade as terrorist organizations. threat from Afghanistan
On its part, the United States has already listed the two terrorist outfits.
Pakistan has “consistently advocated sustained engagement with Afghanistan”, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stressed that the Taliban sanctions regime must not “fall prey to political considerations of Council members”. threat from Afghanistan
Specifically, travel-ban-exemption requests remain crucial for meaningful engagement, he said, recalling the recent quadrilateral meeting between Pakistan, China, Iran and the Russian Federation in Dushanbe, “where we agreed on result-oriented engagement” with Afghanistan’s interim authorities. threat from Afghanistan
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Calling for international engagement with clear objectives, reciprocal steps and a “realistic road map guided by dialogue and diplomacy”, he underscored: “Isolation and disengagement serve no one’s interest.” threat from Afghanistan
He also said that “Continued restrictions on (Afghan) women and girls are inconsistent with Islamic traditions and norms of Muslim society.”
With the conflict in Afghanistan now having ended, many Afghans, whom Pakistan had hosted for decades, have been repatriated in a dignified, phased and orderly manner, Pakistani envoy said.
Pakistan has also instituted a liberal visa regime that enables large number of Afghans to be in Pakistan, legally, for various purposes including family links, education, medical and business.
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“While we will continue to extend all possible assistance to our Afghan brothers and sisters, the international community must shoulder its responsibility and take the necessary steps to ameliorate the conditions and share this burden more equitably,” he said.
“International partners must fulfill their obligations also with regard to their commitments – that are in fact long delayed and unkept – including for third country resettlements.”
As immediate neighbors bound by geography, culture, and history, no country desires peace and stability in Afghanistan more than Pakistan, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said.
“No country has suffered from the consequences of decades of conflict in Afghanistan, more than Pakistan. We therefore remain committed to supporting a peaceful, prosperous Afghanistan – for the sake of our region and in the best interest of the world.”
At the outset, the UN’s outgoing envoy warned that Afghanistan is confronting “a perfect storm” of overlapping crises.
Roza Otunbayeva, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, told the Council that while the country has seen a relative decline in armed conflict since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the humanitarian, economic and human rights situation has deteriorated significantly.
“It is an open question whether there is sufficient pragmatism among the de facto authorities [the Taliban] to manage this perfect storm of crises, or whether decisions driven by ideology will prevent sustainable solutions,” she said.
Central to the crisis, Ms. Otunbayeva stressed, are sweeping Taliban restrictions on Afghan women and girls.
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Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
