Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism, Pakistan tells UN

Pakistan on Friday reiterated its call for Afghan territory to cease being used for terrorism against neighbouring states, urging steps to prevent what it described as “external spoilers” from exploiting the situation, during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The UNSC unanimously adopted a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the Monitoring Team supporting the 1988 Afghanistan Sanctions Committee—responsible for overseeing the Taliban sanctions regime—for a further 12 months. All 15 Council members, including Pakistan, voted in favour of the resolution, extending the mandate until Feb. 17, 2027. The draft was prepared and submitted by the United States.

Speaking at the Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, voiced serious concerns over the continued presence of terrorist groups on Afghan soil, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, Islamic State Khorasan (ISIL-K), and Al Qaeda.

“With the adoption of this resolution, the Council sends a clear message to the Taliban authorities that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country,” the ambassador said, according to highlights of his remarks shared on X.

He added that the Council also expects all member states to ensure that kidnappers, hostage-takers and terrorist groups do not benefit—directly or indirectly—from ransom payments or political concessions, and to take measures to secure the safe release of hostages.

“We call upon the Taliban to prevent terrorist groups from carrying out such actions with impunity and to effectively combat terrorism,” Ahmad said, urging sustained and verifiable counterterrorism measures.

The ambassador said the Council had spoken with a “unanimous voice” in highlighting Afghanistan’s challenges and remained committed to reviewing the sanctions regime as appropriate, taking into account realities on the ground. He expressed hope that the Monitoring Team would continue to report actively and support the work of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee.

“It is for the Afghan authorities to decide what path they wish to choose—whether the path of isolation or the path of peace and prosperity as a responsible member of the international community,” he concluded.

Read: UNSC findings support Pakistan’s TTP stance

A day earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said a recent report by the UNSC’s 1267 Sanctions Committee had “extensively supported” Pakistan’s long-held position that terrorist groups—particularly the TTP—continue to operate from Afghan soil with operational space and support. He added that the Feb. 4 report corroborated Islamabad’s view that the TTP resurged following the 2021 takeover by the interim Afghan government.

The remarks come in the wake of some of the deadliest terrorist attacks Pakistan has faced. Last Friday, at least 36 people were killed and around 169 injured when a suicide bomber struck Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra. The blast, followed by more explosions and gunfire, occurred as worshippers had gathered for Juma’a prayers.

The attack was the deadliest in Islamabad in more than a decade and the most destructive nationwide since the Peshawar mosque bombing in January 2023.

Read more: CTD arrests top terrorist commander in Bannu

On January 31, a series of coordinated attacks at multiple locations in Balochistan. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces killed 92 terrorists, while 18 civilians were martyred. The military said that during clearance operations and intense standoffs, “15 brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom.”

The BLA had claimed responsibility for the attacks in a social media post, describing them as the second phase of “Operation Heroof.” The government has designated the BLA and other Baloch groups as “Fitna al Hindustan”, alleging they are acting as proxies of India to destabilise Pakistan through hybrid warfare. Officials say the BLA’s suicide wing, the Majeed Brigade, has developed links with other anti-Pakistan terrorist outfits operating out of Afghanistan.

In 2025, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa faced 1,588 terrorism-related incidents, reflecting a rapidly escalating militant threat across both settled and tribal regions. Despite the rise in attacks, security forces managed to prevent 320 major strikes, while 137 police officers and personnel laid down their lives in the line of duty. This marks an almost 50 per cent increase compared to 2024.