ISLAMABAD: Pakistan sharply criticized India and Afghanistan at the United Nations on Monday, warning that terrorism emanating from Afghan territory threatens not only Pakistan but the broader region.
Speaking during a United Nations Security Council session on Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said terrorist activity operating from Afghan soil posed a serious international security challenge and required urgent attention.
“Terrorism emanating from Afghan soil poses a grave threat not only to its immediate neighbors, but also to the broader region and beyond, undermining regional and international peace and security,” Ahmad told the council.
He warned that the consequences of militancy in Afghanistan would extend beyond Pakistan’s borders if not addressed.
“We would like to warn that the spillover effects of the terrorism nurturing in Afghanistan will not remain confined to Pakistan,” he said.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following cross-border clashes and Pakistan’s ongoing retaliatory campaign, Operation Ghazab lil Haq, launched after repeated terrorist attacks from Afghan territory.
Pakistani officials say the operation targets militant infrastructure used to facilitate cross-border terrorism, a position repeatedly emphasized by Islamabad in international forums.
Ahmad told the council that Pakistan’s counterterrorism actions were defensive and not directed at Afghan civilians.
“Pakistan's legitimate counterterrorism operations are not directed against the brotherly people of Afghanistan and are only meant to neutralize the persistent threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil,” he said, adding that the actions were carried out in accordance with the right to self-defense and international humanitarian law.
The ambassador said Pakistan had previously supported diplomatic engagement with the Taliban authorities in Kabul, hoping they would address global concerns regarding terrorism, human rights and inclusive governance.
However, he said expectations that Afghan territory would not be used by terrorist groups had not been fulfilled.
“We have lost thousands of lives to terrorism-related incidents since the Taliban takeover,” Ahmad said, adding that “just last month, more than 175 innocent Pakistani lives were lost, including in three suicide attacks.”
He reiterated that Pakistan’s position remained unchanged.
“Pakistan's demand from Afghanistan has always been singular and clear: verifiable and non-reversible action against terrorists,” he said.
Ahmad also delivered strong criticism of India’s role in Afghanistan, saying New Delhi’s policies in the country have long been aimed at undermining Pakistan’s stability.
“Given India's animosity towards Pakistan and the sole objective of its Afghan policy being to destabilize Pakistan, including by actively supporting and sponsoring terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil such as TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan] and BLA [Balochistan Liberation Army], the remarks of the Indian representative come as no surprise,” he told the council.
He said Pakistan had previously presented evidence regarding what it described as India’s links with terrorist groups operating in the region.
“We have provided irrefutable evidence of India's collusion with terrorist groups that are engaged in orchestrating violent attacks against Pakistan,” Ahmad said.
During his right of reply, Ahmad said Pakistan remained committed to stability in Afghanistan but emphasized that lasting peace would depend on concrete action by the Taliban authorities.
“The Taliban must, first and foremost, ensure that their territory is not used for terrorism against neighboring countries and take demonstrable steps to deny space to terrorist groups and proxies,” he said.
Pakistan, he added, had consistently supported peace and stability in Afghanistan, noting that no country had suffered more from the consequences of decades of conflict there than Pakistan.
.jpg)
.jpg)
