Pakistan has warned the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that terrorism emanating from Afghan territory remains the gravest threat to its national security and regional stability, urging the international community to address the challenge on an urgent basis.
Speaking at the UNSC briefing on Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said that multiple terrorist entities — including Daesh-K, Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade — continue to operate from Afghan sanctuaries.
“More than 60 terrorist camps are functioning as hubs for cross-border infiltration and attacks,” the envoy stressed, adding that Pakistan has credible evidence of collaboration among these groups through joint training, illicit weapons trade, refuge to militants, and coordinated assaults targeting civilians, security forces, and development projects inside Pakistan.
Online Propaganda & Terror Financing
Ambassador Iftikhar drew attention to the online dimension of terrorism, noting that nearly 70 propaganda accounts traced to Afghan IP addresses were being used by these groups to incite violence and spread extremist narratives. He called on social media platforms and international partners to strengthen cooperation in curbing these digital threats.
Call for Sanctions on BLA & Majeed Brigade
The ambassador revealed that Pakistan, along with China, has jointly requested the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee to list the BLA and its suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade, in order to choke their external financing and global outreach. He expressed hope for swift action on the proposal.
TTP: The Largest Threat
Identifying the TTP as the single largest terrorist group on Afghan soil, with an estimated 6,000 fighters, he said Pakistan had foiled multiple infiltration attempts and recovered sophisticated military-grade weapons left behind by foreign forces after their withdrawal from Afghanistan. He noted that counter-terrorism operations had come at a heavy price, with 12 Pakistani soldiers martyred this month while defending the borders.
Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
Ambassador Iftikhar also highlighted Afghanistan’s economic and humanitarian emergency, pointing out that the UN 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had received only 27% of its required funding. He reminded the Council that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades with limited international support, urging a fairer burden-sharing mechanism.
Sustained Engagement, Not Isolation
While acknowledging that civil war in Afghanistan had formally ended after four decades, the ambassador cautioned that the security and humanitarian situation remained “deeply worrying.” He emphasized that sustained international engagement with Afghanistan — rather than isolation — was the only path toward lasting peace and stability in the region.
