Sandra Jensen Landi highlights presence of approximately 6,000 TTP fighters in Afghanistan
Denmark has warned the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) of the “serious threat” posed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Central and South Asia, saying the group receives “logistical and substantial support from the de facto authorities”.
Speaking as chair of the Security Council ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, Denmark’s Deputy Permanent Representative Sandra Jensen Landi highlighted the presence of approximately 6,000 TTP fighters in Afghanistan, responsible for high-profile attacks on Pakistan from Afghan soil.
Landi also noted evolving threats from ISIL, Al-Qaeda, and their affiliates. ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL-K) in Central and South Asia remains a serious concern, with at least 2,000 fighters targeting Afghan authorities, Shia communities, and foreign nationals. Meanwhile, Daesh affiliates in Africa, including ISWAP, have expanded activities and propaganda.
Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative Usman Jadoon echoed concerns over terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. He stressed Pakistan’s sacrifices in combating terrorism, noting over 80,000 casualties and economic losses.
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Jadoon highlighted that groups including ISIL-K, TTP and its affiliates, BLA, and Majeed Brigade continue to operate under Afghan patronage.
He called for the 1267 sanctions regime to reflect ground realities, urging objective, transparent, and impartial processes for listing and delisting individuals and entities.
Pakistan-Afghanistan talks
Talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have stalled, with no breakthrough on Islamabad’s demand for a concrete plan to dismantle terrorist networks operating from Afghan soil. Despite mediation by Turkish officials, the Taliban delegation has refused to provide written guarantees.
A security source said, “The logical and reasoned demands that Pakistan has presented are legitimate, but the Afghan Taliban delegation is not ready to fully accept them.”
Another source added, “The message from Islamabad was clear – no compromise on terrorism. Pakistan has presented specific proposals seeking verifiable measures to dismantle the TTP network and prevent cross-border attacks”.
Border closure continues
Pakistan decided to keep its border crossings with Afghanistan shut for an indefinite period, signalling a hardened stance until the Afghan Taliban regime took “verifiable and irreversible” action against terrorist outfits, particularly the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Read more: Pakistan, Afghan Taliban reach interim understanding in Istanbul talks
Officials told The Express Tribune that the government had conveyed to Kabul that the crossings would not reopen for trade and commercial activity unless concrete steps were taken to eliminate anti-Pakistan elements operating from Afghan soil.
The border closure, which stretched beyond a month, left thousands of trucks and containers stranded on both sides, crippling bilateral trade and the regional transit route.
The crossing points remained open only for one-way humanitarian movement, primarily to facilitate the return of Afghan refugees and stranded individuals.
Tensions escalated after unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban regime
Tensions along the Pak-Afghan border escalated on October 12, when clashes erupted after the Afghan Taliban regime opened unprovoked fire at multiple locations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, prompting a swift and forceful response from the Pakistan Army, which destroyed several Afghan posts and killed dozens of Afghan soldiers and militants.
Also read: ‘Security first, trade later’: Afghan border to stay shut indefinitely
The coordinated assault originated across several key sectors, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and Baramcha in Balochistan. The firing, security sources said, was aimed at facilitating the illegal entry of Khwarij — the state-designated term for the banned TTP — into Pakistani territory.
“The Pakistan Army responded immediately and decisively,” security sources said. “The counteroffensive effectively targeted and destroyed multiple Afghan posts on the border. Dozens of Afghan soldiers and Khwarij were killed in retaliatory fire”.
