UNITED NATIONS:
Pakistan informed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the largest UN-designated terrorist group operating from Afghan soil with an estimated strength of around 6,000 fighters, poses a direct threat to Pakistan’s national security.
Participating in a debate on the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s permanent representative to UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that terrorist entities, including Al-Qaeda, the TTP, and the Baloch militant groups, continued to operate from ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani envoy also voiced concern over the potential destabilising impact of the situation in Iran following unprovoked Israeli attacks and warned that a refugee influx from Iran could pose significant challenges for the neighbouring countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains a serious threat to its neighbours, particularly Pakistan,” Ambassador Ahmad told the 15-member UNSC. He pointed out that the TTP had safe havens close to the Pakistani border.
As part of defensive measures, the envoy said, Pakistan has confiscated a significant cache of modern weapons originally left behind by international forces in Afghanistan when they departed after the Taliban captured Kabul four years ago.
In April, the Pakistani envoy continued, 54 TTP terrorists, attempting to infiltrate Pakistan were neutralised by the Pakistani security forces, an incident underscoring the scale and seriousness of the threat.
“We also have credible evidence of collaboration between the TTP and other groups, such as the BLA [Baloch liberation Army] and its Majeed Brigade, aimed at disrupting strategic infrastructure and economic development projects in Pakistan,” Ambassador Ahmad said.
