Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, raised concerns about cross-border militancy and the use of Afghanistan’s territory by armed groups in meetings with senior United Nations officials, as Islamabad presses for greater regional coordination on security.
Sadiq met a delegation from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) led by Indrika Ratwatte, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, who also serves as UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan. The delegation included Malick Ceesay, head of the UNAMA Liaison Office in Islamabad.
According to Sadiq, discussions covered the current human rights situation in Afghanistan, security developments, trade and other key regional issues.
He underscored what he described as serious security challenges posed by militant groups based in Afghanistan, reiterating Pakistan’s position that Afghanistan’s soil must not be used against any country.
Sadiq called for coordinated regional and international efforts to address what he termed a shared threat, and stressed the importance of sustained engagement to promote stability and economic development.
The meeting reaffirmed the value of continued cooperation on humanitarian support, counterterrorism coordination and long-term regional stability, he said.
In a separate meeting, Sadiq met Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.
They exchanged views on recent developments in Afghanistan’s human rights situation and prevailing security challenges, according to Sadiq.
Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban have been strained by a rise in militant attacks inside Pakistan, which Islamabad says are launched from Afghanistan’s territory, a charge the Taliban deny.
